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Thursday, May 16, 2013
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner tells BBC that IBAHRI is ‘absolutely welcome to come in’
The International Bar Association’s Human
Rights Institute (IBAHRI) welcomes the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the
United Kingdom’s recent public statement that IBAHRI representatives will be
granted visas to enter Sri Lanka.
Made
during a live interview, broadcast on the BBC Radio
4 Today programme on 30 April 2013, the comment follows the Sri
Lankan authorities’ refusals on two occasions to accord individuals of
high-level IBAHRI delegations entry to Sri Lanka to investigate the independence
of the legal profession and the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice
Bandaranayake.
In
response to a direct question asking whether IBAHRI would be let in to Sri Lanka
Dr Chris Nonis replied: ‘Yes, if they come in the official manner in which
we or any institution of ours would apply to come to Britain.’ He added,
‘What we look forward to and what we invite is all of you, everyone, to come
to Sri Lanka...and make an objective and impartial analysis of the reality of
contemporary Sri Lanka.’
During
the interview the Today programme’s journalist, Justin Webb, said: ‘Just on
that point, because it’s such an important one isn’t it, because this is the
association that represents lawyers right around the world, the International
Bar Association – if their Human Rights Institute comes back to you and says,
“This is what we would like to do, these are some top lawyers who would like to
come to Sri Lanka…” They are obviously not visa risks, they are not going to
engage in some abuse of the process…if they say what they want to do, will you
let them in?’
Dr
Nonis replied: ‘Naturally, if any institution is formally invited and has
reciprocity with an institution there, as is done [in the UK], naturally of
course we would’.
The
full interview is available on the BBC website until 6 May. Click here to listen. Also,
the transcript is available to read
here.
Dr
Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association commented,
‘The International Bar Association has long-established links with Sri
Lanka’s legal community and is taking a close interest in the independence of
its legal profession. We welcome Dr Chris Nonis’ commitment to allow the IBA’s
Human Rights Institute entry to Sri Lanka, paving the way for constructive
conversations to facility what he describes as “impartial analysis of the
reality of contemporary Sri Lanka”’.
ENDS
ENDS
NOTES
TO THE EDITOR
A high-level IBAHRI delegation applied for visas to enter Sri Lanka on 21 January 2013, using the official online visa application process. The online form provides four options to indicate the ‘purpose of visit’. Option one was selected, to ‘participate in conferences, workshops and seminars’, the category which best fits the intentions of the delegation, which were to hold a range of consultations and seminars with various participants. The alternative options were to participate in ‘art, music and dance’, ‘business meetings and negotiations’, and ‘short training courses’. The online visa application process does not allow applicants to provide further information on the purpose of their trip. Approval to enter the country was suspended on 29 and 30 January in the cases of the delegates who had applied and been approved for entry to Sri Lanka through the online application process. A further visa had been issued to one member of the delegation, facilitated through the relevant national diplomatic channels on 18 January 2013 but was revoked on 29 January.
A high-level IBAHRI delegation applied for visas to enter Sri Lanka on 21 January 2013, using the official online visa application process. The online form provides four options to indicate the ‘purpose of visit’. Option one was selected, to ‘participate in conferences, workshops and seminars’, the category which best fits the intentions of the delegation, which were to hold a range of consultations and seminars with various participants. The alternative options were to participate in ‘art, music and dance’, ‘business meetings and negotiations’, and ‘short training courses’. The online visa application process does not allow applicants to provide further information on the purpose of their trip. Approval to enter the country was suspended on 29 and 30 January in the cases of the delegates who had applied and been approved for entry to Sri Lanka through the online application process. A further visa had been issued to one member of the delegation, facilitated through the relevant national diplomatic channels on 18 January 2013 but was revoked on 29 January.
The
IBAHRI subsequently wrote to the High Commission requesting visas to conduct a
fact-finding mission to investigate the independence of the legal profession and
the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Bandaranayake. The IBAHRI did
not receive a response from the High Commission, and was not granted permission
to enter the country.
The
IBAHRI conducted a remote fact-finding mission through a series of in-depth
conversations by telephone and via the internet with a range of key players in
Sri Lanka, including judges, lawyers, journalists, parliamentarians and civil
society activists. The delegation found there to be a systematic effort to
intimidate and discredit lawyers and others who advocate and promote respect for
fundamental rights in Sri Lanka.
The
report was launched at the House of Lords, London, hosted by Baroness Kennedy of
the Shaws, on 22 April 2013.
- Click here to read the transcript of the exchange between Dr Chris Nonis, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and BBC Radio 4 Today programme’s Justin Webb.
- Click here to download the IBAHRI report A Crisis of Legitimacy: The Impeachment of Chief Justice Bandaranayake and the Erosion of the Rule of Law.
- Click
here to read more about the launch of A Crisis of Legitimacy at the House of
Lords, London.
Click here to watch a four-minute film on the IBAHRI report and recommendations.
For
further information please contact:
Romana
St. Matthew - Daniel
Press Office
International Bar Association
4th Floor, 10 St Bride Street,
London EC4 4AD
Press Office
International Bar Association
4th Floor, 10 St Bride Street,
London EC4 4AD
Mobile:
+44 (0)7940 731 915
Direct Line: +44 (0)20 7842 0094
Main Office: +44 (0)20 7842 0090
Fax:+44 (0)20 7842 0091
Direct Line: +44 (0)20 7842 0094
Main Office: +44 (0)20 7842 0090
Fax:+44 (0)20 7842 0091
May 14, Colombo: The Sri
Lankan government has lifted its ban on fact-finding visits by the International
Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI).The government has said that the institute is welcome to make an "objective and impartial analysis of the reality of contemporary Sri Lanka," according to the institute.
In February 2013 Sri Lankan authorities revoked the visas of a previously constituted delegation and prevented them from undertaking a rapid response mission to Colombo to probe the impeachment of the former Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake.
The External Affairs Ministry of Sri Lanka said the four members of the delegation provided inaccurate information on their visa applications and therefore the delegation was barred form entering the country.
Last month the institute released a report on Sri Lanka raising the issue whether Sri Lanka is a suitable venue to hold the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo in November 2013.
Since the delegation was not allowed to visit the country, it conducted interviews and consultations remotely in preparing the report "A Crisis of Legitimacy".
