简体中文
By APD writer Easwaran
COLOMBO, July 19 (APD) - Sri Lanka has assured the United Nations that freedom of association and peaceful assembly is guaranteed to the public under the present Government, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
The assurance was given to the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of freedom of association and peaceful assembly, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule who commenced an official country visit to Sri Lanka this week.
The UN Special Rapporteur called on Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the meeting, Foreign Minister Marapana observed that the freedom of association and peaceful assembly is guaranteed to the public under the present Government which embarked on a new trajectory upholding the rule of law and democracy and engaging with the international community including the UN on the promotion and protection of human rights. He added that even with Emergency regulations being effective, the rights of freedom of assembly and of association have not been restricted and observed that a number of protests/ trade union actions have been made in the country in the aftermath of Easter Sunday attacks.
The Special Rapporteur expressed his condolences on the recent terrorist attacks that occurred in April and appreciated the fact that the country was able to recover and ensure the rule of law in the aftermath of the incidents.
The Special Rapporteur and the team also attended a stakeholders meeting of relevant Government officials, chaired by Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha. Representatives of Government agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka Police, Hon. Attorney General’s Department, Department of Labour, Ministry of National Integration, Official Languages, Social Progress, and Hindu Religious Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Board of Investment (BOI) and Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) participated in the meeting.
The Foreign Secretary underlined that Sri Lanka has continued its engagement with the UN and international community even throughout testing times. He also noted the importance of the Special Rapporteur engaging with all the relevant stakeholders, which would enable him to gain a balanced perspective on both the measures in place and challenges faced with regard to the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
