{"id":148397,"date":"2015-08-04T01:15:41","date_gmt":"2015-08-03T19:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=148397"},"modified":"2015-08-04T12:21:30","modified_gmt":"2015-08-04T06:51:30","slug":"rescind-sir-desmond-de-silvas-appointment-civil-society-tells-maithripala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/rescind-sir-desmond-de-silvas-appointment-civil-society-tells-maithripala\/","title":{"rendered":"Rescind Sir Desmond De Silva\u2019s Appointment: Civil Society Tells Maithripala"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sending an open letter to the President, 38 Civil Society activists and 11 organisations have today urged President Maithripala Sirisena<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to rescind Sir Desmond De Silva<\/span><\/a>\u2019s appointment\u00a0as Chairman of the Advisory Panel\u00a0of international lawyers hired by the Rajapaksa government forthwith and to take steps to ensure the independence and integrity of state institutions.<\/p>\n

We publish below the letter in full;<\/p>\n

04th August, 2015<\/p>\n

His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena,
\nPresident of Sri Lanka
\nYour Excellency,<\/p>\n

We the undersigned members of Sri Lankan civil society write to you pursuant to credible information made available to us that the Bar Standards Board of the United Kingdom has decided to initiate a formal investigation into the conduct of Sir Desmond de Silva with respect to his role in Sri Lanka. This investigation commenced on 20 July 2015.<\/p>\n

\"Sir<\/a>

Sir Desmond de Silva<\/p><\/div>\n

In this respect, we unreservedly condemn your government\u2019s continued retention of the Advisory Panel of international lawyers hired by the Rajapaksa government to defend its record. This Panel has further discredited a Commission of Inquiry that has failed to earn the confidence of victims and overburdened it with a mandate that was meant to address the overwhelming cases of missing persons from across Sri Lanka, raising serious questions about the willingness of the government to address the issue of enforced disappearances. We were therefore shocked that your government \u2013 several Ministers of which were in the past scathingly critical of the lack of independence of these lawyers and the astronomical fees paid to them \u2013 has continued to retain the Advisory Panel chaired by Sir Desmond de Silva.<\/p>\n

We understand that Sir Desmond was \u2013 prior to being appointed to the Advisory Panel \u2013 retained by the Rajapaksa government to provide advice concerning, among others, that government\u2019s own responsibility for international crimes. Upon producing a written opinion to the Rajapaksa government, Sir Desmond was appointed thereafter to chair the Advisory Panel.<\/p>\n

Despite this, your government continues to retain him as an advisor to a Commission supposed to provide answers to deeply anguished victims. Your government\u2019s continuation of Rajapaksa administration policies is dangerous and utterly incompatible with a stated commitment to the rule of law and good governance. Sir Desmond\u2019s continued role as Chairman of the Advisory Panel is simply untenable in light of a pending formal investigation being conducted against him by the Bar Standards Board. In light of these serious concerns, we urge you to rescind Sir Desmond\u2019s appointment forthwith and to take steps to ensure the independence and integrity of state institutions.<\/p>\n

CC: Hon. Prime Minister
\nHon. Minister of External Affairs
\nSir Desmond de Silva
\nMr. Maxwell Paranagama
\nMr. Zeid Ra\u2019ad al Hussein \u2013 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
\nMr. Pablo de Grieff \u2013 United Nations Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparations and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence<\/p>\n

Signatures:<\/p>\n

Individuals<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ameer M. Faaiz – Attorney-at-law
\nAnthony Jesudasan
\nAruni Jayakody
\nB. Gowthaman – Attorney-at-law
\nBhavani Fonseka – Attorney-at-law
\nBishop Duleep de Chickera
\nBishop Kumara Illangasinghe
\nBrito Fernando
\nDamaris Wickremesekera
\nDr. A.C. Visvalingam
\nDr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
\nDr. Philip Setunga
\nDr. Selvy Thiruchandran
\nGajen Mahendra
\nGamini Jayaweera
\nGamini Viyangoda – Writer & Journalist
\nGodfrey Yogarajah
\nIsabelle Lassee
\nK. Aingkaran \u2013 HRD & Attorney-at-law
\nK.S. Ratnavale – Attorney-at-law
\nKusal Perera \u2013 Journalist
\nMarisa de Silva
\nNalini Ratnarajah
\nNichola Emmanuel
\nNiran Anketell – Attorney-at-law
\nProf. Arjuna Aluwihare
\nProf. Jayantha Seneviratne – University of Kelaniya
\nProf. Savitri Gunesekera
\nPulasthi Hewamanna
\nR.M.B Senanayake – Retired CCS
\nRev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos
\nRev. Fr. V. Yogeswaran
\nRosanna Flamer
\nRuki Fernando
\nSampath Samarakoon
\nShreen Abdul Saroor
\nUdaya Kalupathirana
\nVijaya<\/p>\n

Organizations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD)
\nCentre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)
\nCentre for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (CPPHR), Trincomalee
\nCommittee for Democracy and Justice
\nEqual Ground
\nINFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre
\nKandy Citizens Front
\nReligious Liberty Commission
\nResource Center for Community Groups
\nRight to Life (R2L) Human Rights Centre
\nSouth Asian Centre for Legal Studies
\nWorld Evangelical Alliance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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