PRESS RELEASE
ALRC-PL-49-2005

SRI LANKA: Sri Lankan delegates to U.N. Committee against Torture give firm undertakings to curb torture

(Geneva, November 15, 2005) A high-powered delegation from Sri Lanka to the 35th session of the U.N. Committee against Torture has given firm undertakings to address the continued prevalence of torture in its country. 

The committee considered Sri Lanka's second periodic report in compliance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on November 10 and 11.
 
"During the session, the government delegates gave a number of important commitments," Basil Fernando, executive director of the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), said.

Among those, the delegates told the committee that the chief justice is preparing legislation to deal with delays in adjudication of court hearings, and also that the Law Commission of Sri Lanka is drafting a law on witness protection.

The costs of witness protection are also being considered, and laws are being drafted to set up a victims' fund, the delegates said.

The delegation comprised of the Sri Lankan ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Sarala Fernando, solicitor-general C R de Silva, deputy solicitor-general Shavindra Fernando, and Sumedha Ekanayake from the foreign affairs ministry. 

With regards to concerns that recommendations from U.N. treaty bodies are not implemented by Sri Lanka, the delegates reported that constitutional amendments are being considered to ensure that proposals from the Committee against Torture and other bodies are adopted.

"We urge all concerned persons to follow up on these undertakings and observe and monitor their implementation," Fernando said.

The ALRC earlier called on the committee to take special measures to curb what it has termed the "catastrophic" level of torture committed by the police in Sri Lanka.

Among the proposals in its 180-page report submitted to the committee on October 9, entitled "Systematic and widespread torture by state institutions in Sri Lanka and absence of effective remedies for victims and their family members", was for the U.N. to appoint a special rapporteur to deal directly with the government of Sri Lanka on the issue.

Areas of concern highlighted by the Hong Kong-based regional rights group included malfunctioning policing, lack of protection for witnesses and torture victims, prolonged court delays, and inadequate redress and compensation for victims. 

The ALRC put forward a comprehensive list of recommendations to the U.N. committee in dealing with the government of Sri Lanka, including: to enact a witness protection law, assign a permanent special body to investigate torture, establish a public complaints procedure under the National Police Commission and ensure command responsibility of senior police officers for torture committed under their watch.

It also urged the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to take a more proactive role against torture.

The report, which is the latest of a series on torture in Sri Lanka released by the ALRC, can be found on its website at http://www.alrc.net/doc/mainfile.php/unar_cat_sl_2005.

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About ALRC The Asian Legal Resource Centre holds general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The Hong Kong-based group seeks to strengthen and encourage positive action on legal and human rights issues at local and national levels throughout Asia.