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UNHRC chief’s ‘obstacle to justice’ remark provokes response from AG’s Dept.
View(s):The Attorney General’s Department is drafting a response to the UN Human Rights High Commissioner, who in his latest report on Sri Lanka has described the AG’s office as a key obstacle to justice while emphasising the need for an independent prosecutorial authority.
The response is being drafted in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an AG’s Department official said. It will be part of the Government response to the observations of Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk in his report, which will be presented at the 60th session of the UNHRC in September.
In an advanced copy of the report released on its website on Tuesday, the UNHRC chief said a key obstacle to justice has been the need for reform within the Attorney General’s office to ensure an independent prosecutorial authority to prosecute grave human rights violations.
“The wide prosecutorial discretion afforded to the Attorney General, a general reluctance to act on uncorroborated evidence, limited investigative capacity of the police, lack of qualified forensic experts, and shortage of Tamil-speaking officers are collectively hindering victims’ access to justice and perpetuating impunity,” the report said.
It, however, noted that the Government in its policy manifesto had pledged to introduce “a Directorate of Public Prosecution”, independent of the Attorney General’s Department.
“An expert committee has been established to study the establishment of an independent prosecutor’s office. The Government reported that a committee has been tasked to develop initial proposals and that feedback from the public, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and civil society would be sought on the draft concept paper,” the UN report said.
Human Rights Commissioner Türk met with Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe during his visit to Sri Lanka in June this year.
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