4 February 2015: We, the undersigned conveners on behalf of civil society organizations and individuals who have focused on human rights protection through the dark and dangerous days of the Rajapaksa regime, welcome the victory of Mr. Maithripala Sirisena in the 08th January 2015 Presidential Election and the formation of a new government. We look forward to a positive and constructive association with the new government to ensure an end to the culture of impunity which defined the Rakapaksa regime’s record on human rights, and to a new era of robust human rights protection in Sri Lanka with due respect for the rule of law, accountability and the national and international obligations the Government of Sri Lanka is bound by.

The new government is committed to a 100 -day programme of governance reform, which is essential to bridge the democratic governance deficit so grossly expanded by the Rajapaksa regime over 09 years. We hope and trust and pledge to ensure that in the 100 days and beyond, the fundamental tenet of democratic governance – that human rights protection is integral to it – guides, shapes and informs the changes this government is committed to introducing.

In this context we strongly urge the government to ensure that:

Suspicion and mistrust of civil society organizations and of human rights defenders in particular, is firmly set aside and the rightful place of civil society in democratic governance and public policy deliberation is recognized.

The culture of impunity is reversed and that as a matter of immediate urgency, the list of detainees is released and likewise, those languishing in detention for years without evidence against them.

A transitional justice process is initiated with civil society involvement and victims placed at the centre of the process. Furthermore, that expertise and involvement of the United Nations (UN) human rights and other relevant international bodies in the design and implementation of an accountability process in which perpetrators responsible for human rights related crimes are brought to justice, is sought. This must be in line with international human rights standards and best practices. The findings and recommendations of the relevant processes undertaken with Sri Lankan participation such as the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, as well as UN processes including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation on Sri Lanka, must be taken into account when such a process is designed and implemented.

Anti- terror legislation is brought in line with international standards and obligations.

The reports of all preceding Presidential Commissions on human rights violations are made public and the mandate of the current Commission of Inquiry on Missing Persons extended for a period of 03 months in which it will prepare and release a report on its findings so far. The mandate of the Advisory Council should be terminated with full disclosure as to its terms of reference, remuneration of members and report.

Prosecutions are initiated in the documented egregious cases of human rights abuse such as the Action Contre la Faim (ACF) 17 and Trincomalee 05 cases.

The above are submitted in the spirit of cooperation and in the firm belief that human rights defenders and the Government of Sri Lanka fervently share a common goal of strengthening human rights protection in our country as the basis for its unity, peace and prosperity.

Conveners-
Dr. P. Saravanamuttu
Dr. Nimalka Fernando
Shanthi Sachithanandam
Sudarshana Gunawardana
Kanagasabai Shanmugaratnam Ratnavale

For further contact
[email protected]
0777342834

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Download this Press Release as a PDF here.

Download this statement in Tamil here, and in Sinhala here.

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CPA welcomes the victory of the Common Opposition Candidate Mr. Maithripala Sirisena in the Presidential Election of January 08^th 2015. We wish President Sirisena the very best in office and in particular, with the implementation of his 100 day programme of reform.

The election was significant for a number of reasons. It was the first time an incumbent president sought a third term and had arrayed against him the broadest coalition of political forces in our history with the JHU at one end and the TNA at the other. It was too, the first time in the history of the executive presidency that an incumbent was defeated and in an election with an unprecedented turnout of voters across the country. We hope, that this historic victory will lead to the abolition of the executive presidency or at the very least, a substantial diminution in the powers vested in it.

The election was especially significant because the triumph of democracy it constituted was a triumph of all of the peoples of Sri Lanka, defying the gross abuse of state resources, intimidation and propaganda throughout the campaign and even on Election Day. We salute our fellow citizens for their reaffirmation of faith in the democratic process and reinforcement of strength and confidence in our institutions. We especially acknowledge and commend the robust defence of the integrity of the electoral process by the Election Commissioner at crucial points in the election and likewise, in light of reported attempts to subvert democracy, the role of the commanders of the armed forces, the Inspector General of Police and his officers and the Attorney General. These are acts of individual courage and integrity, which also remind of the critical need of consolidating the institutional and procedural foundations of our democracy.

CPA notes that the election did not happen in a vacuum.   At a time when it was frightening and even termed unfashionable to stand up to the authoritarianism of the previous regime, there were individuals and institutions that did and amongst them some who paid for their democratic beliefs with their lives and livelihoods. We salute them as we do their vindication by fellow citizens. To those who stood against human rights violations and for accountability in respect of them, the families of the disappeared, those who gave their lives in the exercise of their fundamental, democratic rights in Chilaw, in the Free Trade Zone and in Rathupaswela to Lasantha Wickrematunga and Prageeth Ekneligoda to Nimalaruban and to Jeyakumari who still languishes in detention with countless others, to those who opposed the obnoxious Eighteenth Amendment and the illegal and unconstitutional impeachment of the Chief Justice and to those who bore the brunt of vicious religious intolerance and who exposed corruption, we owe and acknowledge a huge debt of gratitude.

They called us terrorists, traitors and thieves; we called ourselves citizens.

We still do and must. This is the opportunity for our country to become the functioning democracy all of its peoples desire and deserve it to be. And let us not forget that the role of civil society in the democratic life of any country, is not and cannot be, episodic.