Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe has voiced his strong displeasure regarding references made to the Attorney General’s Department in the recently released report by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Commissioner.
Mr. Ranasinghe conveyed his concerns during a meeting held this week with United Nations Sri Lanka Resident Representative Marc-Andre Franche. At the meeting, he rejected the contents of the report and noted that a formal response addressing the remarks about the AG’s Department has already been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The response will be incorporated into Sri Lanka’s submission at the 60th sessions of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva next week.
This will form part of the Government’s overall reply to the observations highlighted in the report prepared by UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk.
An advance version of the report, published on the UN website earlier this month, stated that a key obstacle to justice in Sri Lanka is the lack of reform within the Attorney General’s office. It stressed the need for an independent prosecutorial authority to handle grave human rights violations. The report also pointed out that, under its policy manifesto, the Government had pledged to introduce a “Directorate of Public Prosecution, independent of the Attorney General’s Department.”
The report further noted that wide prosecutorial discretion granted to the AG, reluctance to pursue cases based on uncorroborated evidence, limited investigative capacity within the police, a shortage of qualified forensic experts, and the lack of Tamil-speaking officers continue to hinder victims’ access to justice and contribute to a culture of impunity.
It also stated: “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.”
Commenting to the Sunday Times, Mr. Franche said the report by the UN Human Rights Commissioner encourages the Government to honor its commitment to setting up an independent prosecutor’s office. He noted that the report acknowledges the ongoing challenges in Sri Lanka’s justice system but does not express any personal opinion regarding the Attorney General.
Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk himself met with Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe Jr. during his official visit to Sri Lanka in June this year.
