Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today demanded that the government present to Parliament the report that was sent for the Universal Periodical Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva.
Speaking on a Point of Order in Parliament, Mr.Wickremesinghe said the government should table the document in legislature so that the House would know the contents of this report.
“The government has already sent its response to the UPR taking place in September detailing the human rights situation in the country. We should also know what it contains, therefore the report should be presented to Parliament,” he said.
Chief Government Whip Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that an adjournment motion debate on the same matter is scheduled to take place today (22) and Minister of External Affairs will provide a detailed answer on the issue.
UNP Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella pointed out to the Chair that the said adjournment motion scheduled for today (22) was not on the UPR but on the implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.
“The UPR takes place every four year’s time. In 2008, when they met, they brought up 72 recommendations against Sri Lanka and its human rights condition. The government has sent its review on those recommendations and improvements it had made during the course of past four years. What we asking is to submit that response,” Kiriella said.
