Human rights activist and a lawyer, Nimalka Fernando address a public seminar on Human Rights Day on Dec. 10 at the Mahaweli center in Colombo. (Photo by Susitha Fernando)
Human Rights Day kicked off in Sri Lanka as activists gathered in the capital of the formerly war-torn state to push for extensive human rights provisions to be written into the country's new Constitution.
Celebrating the 68th International Human Rights Day, activists, trade union leaders and professionals met in Colombo on Dec. 10 to call for citizens to ensure that human rights are written into the draft Constitution. They held a public seminar at the Mahaweli center under the theme, "Let us change mindset before changing laws."
The new constitution is supposed to cement a nascent peace between the Buddhist Sinhalese and minority Tamils after nearly 30 years of civil war. While the war officially finished in 2009, the foundational problems have not been addressed and aggression continues.
"Is the alternative attacking every Christian church that you see? Is the alternative attacking the mosque or Muslim nationals? Should the alternative be preparing for another civil war?" said leading human rights activist and lawyer, Nimalka Fernando, referring to extremist groups who continue sectarian vendettas.
"The future political journey of the country should be decided by the people including those battered by three decades of war in the north. It should be decided by the groups who suffered in the war," she said, advocating for strong constitutional changes to safeguard human rights.Many of those attending the seminar, also agreed that the executive presidency should be abolished. In Sri Lanka, the president is a fixed executive and cannot be removed except for specific reasons outlined in the current Constitution nor does the president need a parliamentary majority.
J.C. Weliamuna, former director of Transparency International in Sri Lanka, addresses a public seminar for Human Rights Day on Dec. 10 in Colombo. (Photo by Susitha Fernando)
J.C. Weliamuna, former executive director of the Sri Lankan branch of the anti-corruption organization, Transparency International, said that human rights should be established through a strong constitution. "We must restore the parliamentary system instead of the executive presidency which establishes all power around one person and creates dictatorial leaders," he said.
Sri Lanka is at a decisive juncture as the constitutional changes to decentralize power requires a referendum. However, some doubt that the Sinhala majority would agree to decentralize power or let states with sizeable Tamil and Muslim populations have a referendum.