{"id":183933,"date":"2017-11-09T03:41:19","date_gmt":"2017-11-08T22:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=183933"},"modified":"2017-11-13T01:50:46","modified_gmt":"2017-11-12T20:20:46","slug":"sri-lanka-does-not-tolerate-any-form-of-torture-letter-to-the-new-york-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/sri-lanka-does-not-tolerate-any-form-of-torture-letter-to-the-new-york-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka Does Not Tolerate Any Form Of Torture: Letter To The New York Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Prasad Kariyawasam<\/a> –<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Prasad Kariyawasam<\/p><\/div>\n

The New York Times published an article by the Associated Press titled\u00a0<\/span>\u2018Dozens of Men Describe Rape, Torture by Sri Lanka Government<\/a>\u2019 on 8 November 2017 .<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We publish below the letter sent to the Editor of The New York Times in this connection, by the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prasad Kariyawasam:<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

November 8, 2017<\/span><\/p>\n

The Editor <\/span><\/p>\n

The New York Times<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Editor, <\/span><\/p>\n

I write with reference to the article titled \u2018Dozens of Men Describe Rape, Torture by Sri Lanka Government\u2019\u00a0<\/span>by the Associated Press that was published in the New York Times.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It would be appreciated in this regard, if this response from the Government of Sri Lanka could also be published in the New York Times, considering the gravity of the allegations and the firm commitment of the National Unity Government to uphold the rule of law. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Government of Sri Lanka strongly condemns<\/b> any act of torture, and will ensure that allegations of torture committed in the country will be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Government seeks the assistance and cooperation of all those relevant parties in this endeavour, including parties outside the country, as evidence is key in the conduct of investigations.<\/span><\/p>\n

The National Unity Government that was formed in Sri Lanka following the January 8, 2015 Presidential Election and the August 2015 Parliamentary Election, is committed, as promised to the people of the country, to work towards reconciliation, good governance, rule of law, and the promotion and protection of human rights, and has taken numerous concrete steps to prevent the commission of torture, including the following: <\/span><\/p>\n

* Strengthening the National Human Rights Commission and ensuring that they are granted access to places where there may be complaints of torture<\/span><\/p>\n

* Issuance of orders to all police and security officials forbidding torture of any kind, with punishment to the full extent of the law, if violated<\/span><\/p>\n

* Issuing a standing invitation to Special Rapporteurs with 6 visits having taken place already since January 2015, including visits by the High Commissioner for Human Rights (February 2016) and the UN Secretary-General (September 2016)<\/span><\/p>\n

* We have welcomed and continue to welcome visits by human rights organisations, including to the places where allegations of torture have been made, so that they can see for themselves that such illegal and reprehensible actions are not taking place in the country<\/span><\/p>\n

* The National Human Rights Action Plan (2017-2021) which was launched recently, has a complete chapter on the Prevention of Torture, with indicators for action to be taken, and we are committed to its implementation<\/span><\/p>\n

* The President of Sri Lanka himself participated in a march organized by the National Human Rights Commission in June 2016, to advocate against torture and affirm the zero tolerance policy on torture at the highest level of Government <\/span><\/p>\n

* A Committee on Prevention of Torture, established by the Ministry of Law & Order, chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry, convenes monthly meetings to discuss the progress made by relevant stakeholder institutions in ensuring Government\u2019s zero tolerance policy on torture<\/span><\/p>\n