By Colombo Telegraph –
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) expresses serious concern at the Sri Lankan government’s decision to deny entry to Sri Lanka to senior international figures, including a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, Justice J S Verma.
Dr Mark S Ellis
Dr Mark S Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association stated; ‘It is disappointing that the Sri Lankan authorities have missed the opportunity to cooperate on a visit by respected foreign members of the legal system. It will suggest to the international community that the Sri Lankan authorities are fearful of having independent eyes on the issues of interest to the legal profession.’
The IBAHRI wholly refutes the assertion made by the Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry that information contained in the online visa applications was inaccurate.
The Sri Lanka online visa application process 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.
A 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to one member of the delegation, facilitated through the relevant national diplomatic channels on 18 January 2013 but was revoked on 29 January. Approval to enter the country was suspended on 29 and 30 January in the cases of the other delegates, who had applied and been approved for entry to Sri Lanka through the online application process on 21 January 2013.
The visit was planned from 1–10 February 2013 to meet members of the legal profession, and representatives of government, media and civil society.
Following the suspension and revocation of the visas the IBAHRI was assured that the Sri Lankan High Commission in London would cooperate in the investigation and resolution of the matter. To date, no further information has been forthcoming. However, we remain hopeful that the Sri Lankan government will wish to remain open to international engagement and will reinstate the visits accordingly.
eureka / February 6, 2013
Dr Mark Ellis
Pl press the President to publish the reports in:
A List of Commissions of Inquiry and Committees Appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka (2006 – 2012), scribd.com, 12 March 2012,
Successive Sri Lankan governments have been doing the same for decades:
Sri Lanka: Twenty years of make-believe. Sri Lanka’s Commissions of Inquiry, Amnesty International, 11 June 2009,
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kumudini / February 6, 2013
EACH COUNTRY USES THEIR OWN DISCRETION TO ALLOW WHO COMES TO THE COUNTRY ,BEFORE THE VISA SYSTEM WAS IN PLACE IN SL ANY TOM ,DICK OR HARRY COULD COME TO SL RETUN TO THEIR COUNTRY AND WRITE DAMNING REPORTS FOR FOREIGN CONSUMPTION. I PERSONALLY KNOW HOW MANY GENUINE CASES OF VISITORS HAVE BEEN REFUSED VISA’S TO AUSTRALIA, UK USA. WE WOULD NEVER ENTERTAIN UNDESIRABLE CHARACHTERS INTO OUR HOMES . WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ENTRY WHETHER THEY ARE HIGH POWERED OR LOW POWERED. IT IS A SIMILIAR SITUATION IN A COUNTRY . THE VISA SYSTEM IS IN PLACE TO SCREEN OUT THE UNDESIRABLES AND FINALLY IT IS WORKING IN SL .
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kp / February 6, 2013
yes, i believe that is why sri lanka has now become a hub in the global drug transport trade, because your precious system is working.
eat poonac and drink cognac and pretend the band is playing while the world burns. but please, dont offer us any of your stupidity. the rest of us know that poonac is for cows.
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vizzy pooh / February 6, 2013
I am shocked that members of the International Bar Association are called undesirables under comments. With such people who close their eyes to abject wrong doing of the state one can never hope to have a well governed country. The educated and the connected who have access to email and the like are the greatest danger to the country and its citizens with this blind devotion to the regime. We must not confuse loyalty to the regime with loyal to the country. This regime is very disloyal to the country as they are plundering it in every sense
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Gajaba / February 6, 2013
“..Following the suspension and revocation of the visas the IBAHRI was assured that the Sri Lankan High Commission in London would cooperate in the investigation and resolution of the matter. To date, no further information has been forthcoming. However, we remain hopeful that the Sri Lankan government will wish to remain open to international engagement and will reinstate the visits accordingly…”
IBAHRI and other international organizations, governments and interested parties,
Please try to understand the reality in Sri Lanka. This country is not like yours where people and the governments uphold the law and order, civility and international relations and friendship. This is the country of Madamulana uneducated uncultured bastards who do not understand the diplomatic language or any international niceties and ethics. It is time the IC takes stern action against the despot and ousts him from power so that the next government may take legal action against the culprits.
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anaperera / February 6, 2013
This statement is much clearer and places the information on the public domain in a proper way, than does the recent lawyers collective one the same issue, and that statement now looks like a more half hearted and face saving one, perhaps, a true reflection of the entire legal profession and the judiciary in this country, now, in line with many others, the legislature, the professional bodies, the bureaucracy under the thumb of the executive and its various avatars.
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Jayantha / February 6, 2013
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kris / February 7, 2013
These peoples are not coming to help SL, they want to tarnish the image of SL
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Senguttuvan / February 7, 2013
The regime is clearly out of its depth. Not only was a Visa issued and then withdrawn but now a lie is put forward as cover. The truth is the
guilt-ridden regime fears if Justice Verma’s team comes and inter-acts with all relevant parties, the technical illegality of the impeachment will stand exposed – resulting in sufficient pressure brought upon the Govt from higher international sources to retract. That will be suicidal for the ruling clique. To bypass the issue the regime seem to have persuaded a another lesser known body to come into the scene. What a Comedy of Errors? IBARI is very likely to react with all resources within its reach.
Senguttuvan
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Saman Wijesiri / February 7, 2013
How do you account for valid ballot papers marked in favour of Sarath Fonseka surfacing from most unlikely places in the country? Did we have fair and independent elections? Are we having a rogue President and a rogue Parliament just like a rogue Chief Justice?
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