Inclusive governance, greater civic engagement in Sri Lanka important: UN

By Susitha FernandColombo, Nov 26th : .

Khaled Khiari, the United Nations Assistant Secretary General, Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific, visited Sri Lanka on Friday and stressed the importance of inclusive governance and greater civic engagement as well as the need to protect all Sri Lankans rights.

This was the final remarks of the ASG, who oversees the UNs regional work in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs – Department of Peace Operations.Khiari met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Foreign Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris, Basil Rajapaksa, Finance Minister, and representatives from opposition, Tamil, and Muslim political parties and civil society leaders, among other things "I was pleased to hear from a wide range of voices in Sri Lankan about past and present challenges and opportunities, and I welcomed the UN-Sri Lanka cooperation on peace and development.He said that he had also reiterated his support for Sri Lankas implementation the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

SDG 16 highlights how sustainable peace is inextricably linked to access to justice for all, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.Peiris also spoke with Khiari about recent domestic progress in reconciliation and human rights.

He also discussed the proposed revisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.Khiaris trip to Sri Lanka was a continuation of the bilateral meeting President Rajapaksa held with Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General, on September 76th Session.Sri Lanka is being accused of human rights violations during its three-decade-long civil war.This ended in 2009 with defeat of the separatist Tamil Tigers, and a surge in civilian deaths.Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner For Human Rights, was given a mandate in March to gather evidence of crimes committed during Sri Lankas long civil war.In September, the UN Human Rights chief stated again that she was looking forward "concrete actions" by the Sri Lankan government to fulfill its promises.She also urged members of the UN Human Rights Council "close attention" towards the island nation, whose rights record is still in international focus ten years after its civil war ended.

Bachelet also mentioned Sri Lankas draconian anti-terrorism law, the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and the prolonged detention of human right activists.sfl/v #Inclusive #governance #greater #civic #Lanka #important #Chennai #Tamil #Kollywood.