Commonwealth SG Kamalesh Sharma promises to help politically controlled institutions to become more stronger

Thursday, 14 February 2013

Issuing a statement at the end of his 3 day visit to Sri Lanka Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma promised to strengthen the Human Rights Commission and Press Council of Sri Lanka among other such promises.

Both institutions are politicaly controlled by the Rajapaksha government. NHRC has in the recent past has proved its pro Rajapkasha bias on number of occations. It remains in B status in the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions since 2008. Sri Lanka NHRC is not an independent body according to Paris Principals of the ICC. Instead of calling for an independent NHRC Kamalesh Sharma has promised to strengthen this political tool of the regime.

The Press Council of Sri Lanka is a censorship mechanism which was revived by the regime few years ago. All major media organisations, including the Editors Guild of Sri Lanka and the Free Media Movement has opposed the re establishment of the Press Council. It has been opposed by all international press freedom organisations well. Now Kamalesh Sharma instead of asking to repeal it has promised to strengthen it.

Strange enough Kamalesh Sharmahas stated that the Commonwealth will support the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka by strengthening the Press Council and another bankrupt institution, Sri Lanka Press Institute. Former director of its media training arm now runs President Rajapaksha's social media.

Further more Kamalesh Sharma has welcomed the proposed changes of law related to the impeachment of superior court judges, a move that has been strongly criticised by independent lawyers. This proposed 19th amendment will be another blow for the independent of judiciary according to senior lawyer S. Sumanthiran , a TNA MP.