Chairman of the Constitutional Council Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said the elevation of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to the ‘A’ category among the world’s human rights organizations is a step to lift the country as a decent and respected nation.
“I believe that our country has been elevated before the world as a decent and respected nation,” chairman of the Constitutional Council said.
“Especially it is a confirmation in the country and internationally that Sri Lankans are citizens of a free society with justice and equality. This is a great step we took forward as a nation.”
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) yesterday announced that it has been designated an ‘A’ status human rights commission by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) in May 2018.
“As the chairman of the Constitutional Council I wish to extend my gratitude to the Government which provided the space for the Human Rights organizations to function without a hindrance to acquire this dignity in the human rights field, and to the Human Rights Commission for its active role in this achievement,” Jayasuriya said in his statement.
“I also wish the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka will have the strength and courage as a powerful, strong, independent mechanism to protect human rights in the country in the future,” he said.
The HRCSL said the applications for re-accreditation to ‘A’ status were not successful in both 2007 and also 2009.
“The upgrading of HRCSL within just two and a half years of its appointment is not only an institutional achievement, but is certainly a victory for the people of Sri Lanka who demanded the establishment of independent commissions through the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The Commission is inspired to work harder for the protection of human rights of all in Sri Lanka,” the HRCSL said in a statement.
