Sri Lanka is in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis which only seems to be worsening with each passing week. In this context, despite the autonomy and sovereignty that the Government boasts about, and promises to make Sri Lanka a self-sufficient nation, the international community’s prescription of Sri Lanka matters in many ways.
The Government is also concerned about the international community’s opinion about the country, according to Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris. On 14 February, he stated that Sri Lanka hopes that the international community will look at Sri Lanka with an unbiased eye, accept the country’s stance, and come to just conclusions about the country at the upcoming regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
What Prof. Peiris’s statement shows can be interpreted in two ways – it could be a fear of further losing the international community’s support, or a genuine concern about addressing the country’s long drawn out issues. What we can say for certain is that Sri Lanka is at a critical juncture where it absolutely needs new and strong international ties, and the Government, regardless of the reason, has understood this situation.
The biggest question the Government needs to ask itself is whether Sri Lanka is really in a position to request or demand the international community’s support when incidents that the international community abhors keep happening in the country and when it is the Government that the finger is pointed at for most of these incidents?
We do not have to go far. The past few weeks alone saw several incidents that the people and the international community do not approve of. The same day that Prof. Peiris made the aforementioned statement, the house of journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama was attacked by an unidentified group, while activist Shehan Malaka Gamage was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) while on the road. These incidents made national headlines not only because of the duo’s standing in society, but due to the fact that while Samarawickrama has been critical about aspects of governance, Gamage is a person who has been openly demanding justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks.
While Gamage was released on bail the following day, thus far, no suspects have been arrested or identified with regard to the attack on Samarawickrama’s house. It is also important to note that the manner in which Gamage’s arrest was made is highly questionable, as he was arrested by CID officers who were clad in plain clothes, and as per reports, had come in a white van. Most importantly, a video of the arrest which circulated on social media platforms shows a woman asking for the name of at least one officer who was part of making the arrest, which implies that the officers did not identify themselves at the time of arrest, and Gamage was seen demanding the reason for his arrest, which implies that he was not informed of the exact reason for his arrest, even though the Police later stated that the reason for the arrest was a statement Gamage had made regarding the Easter Sunday attacks.
These incidents took place in a context where the Government, i.e. the Foreign Ministry headed by Prof. Peiris, has presented a bill for the amendment of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979 (PTA), one of the most controversial laws. This bill, although the Government keeps claiming is adequate to make the necessary amendments to the PTA, has been rejected by activists, legal experts, and people who have been affected by the PTA for not including changes that can make the PTA a human rights-friendly law. The PTA is a law that the international community has rejected for years in many contexts, and has demanded the repeal of.
It would be a grave mistake to think that these developments are mere domestic matters which need to be addressed in the domestic context, at a time when the enforcement of the PTA as well as assaults on and the oppression of journalists and activists have been two of the major issues the international community has condemned and demanded action against.
At the same time, it would be a mistake to think that the Government can interpret these incidents in whatever the way it wants, and expect the international community to buy their interpretations while seeking their acceptance and support in human rights-related matters. The international community is much more attentive and serious about Sri Lanka’s situation, especially about the deteriorating human rights situation, the rule of law, and the freedom of expression.
Sri Lanka does need the international community’s acceptance, predominantly due to the fact that that acceptance will be a factor that affects the international support Sri Lanka receives in the foreseeable future, especially on the economic front. However, before seeking such acceptance, the Government needs to make a self assessment as to whether it has done its best in the local context to be eligible to request international acceptance.
We cannot disregard the fact that mere statements, promises and plans are unlikely to cut it, and that after failing to improve the country’s human rights situation for so many years under several Governments, the international community now expects concrete and genuine action. With such action, Sri Lanka will receive the international community’s acceptance without having to request for such.Failing at fooling foreign forces
17 Feb 2022
Failing at fooling foreign forces
17 Feb 2022
Sri Lanka is in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis which only seems to be worsening with each passing week. In this context, despite the autonomy and sovereignty that the Government boasts about, and promises to make Sri Lanka a self-sufficient nation, the international community’s prescription of Sri Lanka matters in many ways.
The Government is also concerned about the international community’s opinion about the country, according to Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris. On 14 February, he stated that Sri Lanka hopes that the international community will look at Sri Lanka with an unbiased eye, accept the country’s stance, and come to just conclusions about the country at the upcoming regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
What Prof. Peiris’s statement shows can be interpreted in two ways – it could be a fear of further losing the international community’s support, or a genuine concern about addressing the country’s long drawn out issues. What we can say for certain is that Sri Lanka is at a critical juncture where it absolutely needs new and strong international ties, and the Government, regardless of the reason, has understood this situation.
The biggest question the Government needs to ask itself is whether Sri Lanka is really in a position to request or demand the international community’s support when incidents that the international community abhors keep happening in the country and when it is the Government that the finger is pointed at for most of these incidents?
We do not have to go far. The past few weeks alone saw several incidents that the people and the international community do not approve of. The same day that Prof. Peiris made the aforementioned statement, the house of journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama was attacked by an unidentified group, while activist Shehan Malaka Gamage was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) while on the road. These incidents made national headlines not only because of the duo’s standing in society, but due to the fact that while Samarawickrama has been critical about aspects of governance, Gamage is a person who has been openly demanding justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks.
While Gamage was released on bail the following day, thus far, no suspects have been arrested or identified with regard to the attack on Samarawickrama’s house. It is also important to note that the manner in which Gamage’s arrest was made is highly questionable, as he was arrested by CID officers who were clad in plain clothes, and as per reports, had come in a white van. Most importantly, a video of the arrest which circulated on social media platforms shows a woman asking for the name of at least one officer who was part of making the arrest, which implies that the officers did not identify themselves at the time of arrest, and Gamage was seen demanding the reason for his arrest, which implies that he was not informed of the exact reason for his arrest, even though the Police later stated that the reason for the arrest was a statement Gamage had made regarding the Easter Sunday attacks.
These incidents took place in a context where the Government, i.e. the Foreign Ministry headed by Prof. Peiris, has presented a bill for the amendment of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979 (PTA), one of the most controversial laws. This bill, although the Government keeps claiming is adequate to make the necessary amendments to the PTA, has been rejected by activists, legal experts, and people who have been affected by the PTA for not including changes that can make the PTA a human rights-friendly law. The PTA is a law that the international community has rejected for years in many contexts, and has demanded the repeal of.
It would be a grave mistake to think that these developments are mere domestic matters which need to be addressed in the domestic context, at a time when the enforcement of the PTA as well as assaults on and the oppression of journalists and activists have been two of the major issues the international community has condemned and demanded action against.
At the same time, it would be a mistake to think that the Government can interpret these incidents in whatever the way it wants, and expect the international community to buy their interpretations while seeking their acceptance and support in human rights-related matters. The international community is much more attentive and serious about Sri Lanka’s situation, especially about the deteriorating human rights situation, the rule of law, and the freedom of expression.
Sri Lanka does need the international community’s acceptance, predominantly due to the fact that that acceptance will be a factor that affects the international support Sri Lanka receives in the foreseeable future, especially on the economic front. However, before seeking such acceptance, the Government needs to make a self assessment as to whether it has done its best in the local context to be eligible to request international acceptance.
We cannot disregard the fact that mere statements, promises and plans are unlikely to cut it, and that after failing to improve the country’s human rights situation for so many years under several Governments, the international community now expects concrete and genuine action. With such action, Sri Lanka will receive the international community’s acceptance without having to request for such.Kapruka
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!