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ÐOF€THE€COVENANT€(òòcontinuedóó)Ð ²`" ÐÌà b àThird€periodic€report€of€Sri€Lanka€(òòcontinuedóó)Ð 8æ$ ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌß?€'Ú%sdE+Ú%s?ßà b àThis€record€is€subject€to€correction.Ð P%þ!, ÐÌà b àCorrections€should€be€submitted€in€one€of€the€working€languages.€€TheyÐ Ö&„#. Ðshould€be€set€forth€in€a€memorandum€and€also€incorporated€in€a€copy€of€theÐ ™'G$/ Ðrecord.€€They€should€be€sent€òòwithin€one€week€of€the€date€of€this€documentóó€toÐ \( %0 Ðthe€Official€Records€Editing€Section,€room€E.4108,€Ô_ÔPalaisÔ_Ô€des€Nations,€Geneva.Ð )Í%1 ÐÌà b àAny€corrections€to€the€records€of€the€public€meetings€of€the€Committee€atÐ ¥*S'3 Ðthis€session€will€be€consolidated€in€a€single€corrigendum,€to€be€issuedÐ h+(4 Ðshortly€after€the€end€of€the€session.Ð +,Ù(5 ÐÌGE.95„17716€€(E)Ð ±-_*7 ÐÐ  t."+8 ÐÔ_ÔÑØRÑÑ}‰ÑÖ€ÿÿÖÖ€ÿÿÖÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!++7BÓà@É É “àòòThe€meeting€was€called€to€order€at€10.10€a.m.óóˆÐ É ÐÌCONSIDERATION€OF€REPORTS€SUBMITTED€BY€STATES€PARTIES€UNDER€ARTICLE€40€OFÐ O† ÐTHECOVENANT€(agenda€item€4)€(òòcontinuedóó)Ð I ÐÌòòThird€periodic€report€of€Sri€Lankaóó€(CCPR/C/70/Add.6;€HRI/CORE/1/Add.48)Ð ˜Ï ÐÌòòóó1.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€invited€the€Sri€Lankan€delegation€to€conclude€its€replies€toÐ  U Ðthe€questions€contained€in€sectionIII€of€the€list€of€issues.Ð á  ÐÌ2.à b àòòMr.€GOONETILLEKEóó€(Sri€Lanka)€said,€in€answer€to€question(f)€ofÐ g ž  ÐsectionIII€of€the€list€of€issues,€that€Sri€Lanka's€policies€and€institutionsÐ * a  Ðconcerned€with€the€well-being€of€children€had€developed€over€a€long€periodÐ í $  Ðasan€integral€part€of€major€social€welfare€programmes,€and€had€had€aÐ °ç  Ðfar-reaching€beneficial€impact€through€the€provision€of€free€health€services,Ð sª  Ðfree€education€from€primary€to€tertiary€levels,€and€subsidized€food€rations,Ð 6m  Ðwith€special€food€programmes€for€needy€mothers.€€The€requirements€of€earlyÐ ù0  Ðchildhood€received€special€attention.€€The€quality€and€reach€of€maternal€andÐ ¼ó  Ðchild€health€care€services€had€resulted€in€a€rapid€decline€in€infant,€childÐ ¶  Ðand€maternal€mortality€to€levels€that€were€exceptional€for€a€low„incomeÐ By Ðcountry.€€By€the€early€1960s€the€primary€school€enrolment€rate€had€amounted€toÐ < Ð90percent,€with€a€high€level€of€participation€by€female€children.€€TheÐ Èÿ ÐUnited€Nations€Children's€Fund€regarded€Sri€Lanka€as€a€flagship€State€in€theÐ ‹Â Ðarea€of€child€care.€€The€Government€had€ratified€the€Convention€on€the€RightsÐ N… Ðof€the€Child€in€July€1991,€and€had€incorporated€its€provisions,€elaborating€onÐ H Ðsome€of€them,€in€its€Children's€Charter.€€A€national€committee€had€been€setÐ Ô  Ðupto€monitor€the€rights€of€the€child,€and€a€forum€of€non-governmentalÐ —Î Ðorganizations€(NGOs)€had€been€established€to€work€with€the€Government€andÐ Z‘ Ðinternational€agencies€on€related€issues.€€The€Government€had€reviewedÐ T Ðexisting€legislation€relating€to€children€with€the€aim€of€removing€anomaliesÐ à Ðand€inconsistencies€and€strengthening€the€legal€framework;€the€resultingÐ £Ú Ðrecommendations€had€received€Cabinet€approval€and€would€be€presented€toÐ f ÐParliament€shortly.€€New€offences€would€be€incorporated€in€the€Penal€Code€inÐ )`  Ðrespect€of€incest,€sexual€exploitation€of€children,€cruelty€to€children€andÐ ì#! Ðuse€of€children€in€obscene€publications€and€shows;€heavier€punishments€wereÐ ¯æ" Ðalso€prescribed€in€respect€of€such€offences.€€Ð r©# ÐÌ3.à b àThe€law€relating€to€the€administration€of€juvenile€justice€was€containedÐ ø /% Ðprimarily€in€the€Children's€and€Young€Persons'€Ordinance€of€1939,€whichÐ »!ò& Ðdefined€children€as€those€under€14€and€young€persons€as€those€between€14Ð ~"µ' Ðand16.€€Provision€for€the€detention€of€youthful€offenders€„€those€between€theÐ A#x( Ðages€of€16€and€22€„€was€to€be€found€in€the€Youthful€Offenders€Training€SchoolsÐ $;) ÐOrdinance€of€1939.€€The€Probation€of€Offenders€Ordinance€of€1944€governed€theÐ Ç$þ* Ðprobation€of€juvenile€offenders.€€The€Children's€and€Young€Persons'€OrdinanceÐ Š%Á + Ðprovided€for€the€establishment€of€juvenile€courts€for€the€hearing€of€anyÐ M&„!, Ðcharge€against€the€child€or€young€person€except€where€the€alleged€offence€wasÐ 'G"- Ðmurder,€culpable€homicide€not€amounting€to€murder,€attempt€to€murder,€attemptÐ Ó' #. Ðto€commit€culpable€homicide,€or€robbery.€€Juvenile€courts€were€presided€overÐ –(Í#/ Ðby€a€children's€magistrate€who€was€required€to€explain€the€substance€of€theÐ Y)$0 Ðalleged€offence€in€simple€language.€€Where€the€offence€was€an€indictable€one,Ð *S%1 Ðthe€offender€was€given€the€option€of€being€tried€either€by€the€juvenile€courtÐ ß*&2 Ðor€by€a€higher€court.€€In€deciding€how€to€deal€with€an€offender€found€guilty,Ð ¢+Ù&3 Ðthe€juvenile€court€was€required€to€take€into€consideration€the€availableÐ e,œ'4 Ðinformation€on€the€circumstances€of€the€offender,€including€a€probationÐ (-_(5 Ðofficer's€report.€€Children€and€young€persons€were€required€to€be€detainedÐ É Ðseparately€from€adult€offenders.€€Young€suspects€not€granted€bail€wereÐ ŒÃ Ðcommitted€to€remand€homes€or€to€the€care€and€custody€of€a€fit€person;€theyÐ O† Ðcould€not€be€committed€to€prison.€€Parents€were€required€wherever€possible€toÐ I Ðattend€all€court€proceedings€relating€to€their€children,€and€prior€toÐ Õ  Ðproducing€a€juvenile€offender€in€court€the€police€were€required€to€notify€aÐ ˜Ï Ðprobation€officer,€who€should€conduct€the€necessary€investigations€into€theÐ [ ’ Ðhome€circumstances,€school€record,€health€and€character€of€the€offender€andÐ  U Ðmake€such€information€available€to€the€court.€€The€Ordinance€provided€for€theÐ á  Ðestablishment€of€remand€homes,€certified€schools€and€approved€homes€forÐ ¤ Û  Ðthedetention€of€persons€coming€within€its€purview.€€It€prohibited€theÐ g ž  Ðimprisonment€of€children.€€Young€persons€might€be€committed€to€prison€only€ifÐ * a  Ðthe€court€certified€that€they€were€of€such€unruly€or€depraved€character€thatÐ í $  Ðthey€could€not€be€referred€to€a€remand€home€or€certified€school.Ð °ç  ÐÌ4.à b àThe€sentencing€options€available€for€the€young€offender€includedÐ 6m  Ðdischarge€after€due€admonition;€delivery€to€the€parent€or€guardian€onÐ ù0  Ðexecution€of€a€bond€that€they€would€be€responsible€for€his€good€behaviour;Ð ¼ó  Ðplacement€under€probation;€placement€in€the€charge€of€a€fit€person,€approvedÐ ¶  Ðhome€or€certified€school;€imposition€of€a€fine;€corporal€punishment€in€theÐ By Ðform€of€six€strokes€with€a€light€cane€for€male€juvenile€offenders;€detentionÐ < Ðduring€the€President's€pleasure€in€lieu€of€sentence€of€death;€imprisonment€inÐ Èÿ Ðan€adult€prison€subject€to€certain€restrictions;€conditional€discharge;Ð ‹Â Ðsuspended€sentence€of€imprisonment;€and€community€service€in€lieu€ofÐ N… Ðimprisonment.Ð H ÐÌ5.à b àThe€Prisons€Ordinance€provided€for€the€separation€of€juvenile€prisonersÐ —Î Ðfrom€adult€prisoners.€€The€existing€legislation€pertaining€to€children€inÐ Z‘ Ðconflict€with€the€law€was€in€keeping€with€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€theÐ T ÐChild.€€In€practice,€however,€there€were€a€number€of€gaps€and€deficiencies€inÐ à Ðits€observance€and€enforcement.€€The€provision€that€special€juvenile€courtsÐ £Ú Ðdealt€with€the€offences€of€children€and€young€persons€had€not€been€put€intoÐ f Ðeffect€on€a€nation-wide€basis;€there€was€only€one€juvenile€court€in€theÐ )`  Ðcountry€„€in€Colombo.€€The€frequent€delays€in€the€adjudication€of€cases€hadÐ ì#! Ðadverse€consequences€for€juvenile€offenders,€notably€interruption€in€theirÐ ¯æ" Ðschooling.€€The€separation€of€juveniles€from€adults€during€remand€was€also€notÐ r©# Ðalways€strictly€observed.€€Another€undesirable€practice€that€was€in€need€ofÐ 5 l$ Ðurgent€correction€was€that€of€placing€children€taken€into€police€custody€forÐ ø /% Ðreasons€other€than€the€commission€of€criminal€offences€together€with€those€whoÐ »!ò& Ðhad€committed€offences.€€The€Government€had€appointed€a€technical€committee€onÐ ~"µ' Ðjuvenile€delinquency€which€had€submitted€recommendations;€legislation€wasÐ A#x( Ðcurrently€being€prepared.Ð $;) ÐÌ6.à b àThe€rehabilitation€of€juvenile€offenders€under€probation€or€custodialÐ Š%Á + Ðcare€was€administered€by€the€Department€of€Probation€and€Child€Care€Services.€Ð M&„!, ÐJuvenile€offenders€were€rehabilitated€in€four€certified€schools€which€wereÐ 'G"- ÐState€institutions€and€in€an€approved€school€run€by€the€Roman€Catholic€ChurchÐ Ó' #. Ðwith€State€assistance.€€Before€admission,€juvenile€offenders€were€placed€inÐ –(Í#/ Ðremand€homes,€but€not€alongside€adult€offenders.€€The€Government€wasÐ Y)$0 Ðconsidering€a€proposal€to€begin€a€vocational€training€programme€in€one€of€theÐ *S%1 Ðcertified€schools.€€New€trades€had€been€introduced€for€female€delinquents€whoÐ ß*&2 Ðhad€previously€received€training€only€in€domestic€science€and€handicrafts.€Ð ¢+Ù&3 Ðâ âChildren€leaving€such€schools€were€provided€with€tool€kits€to€enable€them€toÐ e,œ'4 Ðstart€working.€€The€area€of€juvenile€delinquency€in€general€needed€continuousÐ É Ðevaluation€and€improvement.Ð ŒÃ Ðâ âÌ7.à b àòòMr.€PERERAóó€(SriLanka)€said€that€he€would€like€to€deal€with€some€issuesÐ I Ðfrom€sectionI€which€his€delegation€had€overlooked€the€day€before.€€Ð Õ  ÐÌ8.à b àRegarding€the€rationale€for€incorporating€recognized€rights€underÐ [ ’ Ðcriminal€law€into€the€new€constitutional€reforms,€he€said€the€intention€was€toÐ  U Ðtransform€into€constitutional€guarantees€those€established€principles€ofÐ á  Ðcriminal€law€and€procedure€that€had€been€enshrined€in€the€country'sÐ ¤ Û  ÐPenalCodeand€Criminal€Procedure€Code€since€the€late€nineteenth€century.€Ð g ž  ÐTheprinciples€„€such€as€arrest€according€to€the€law€and€by€warrant,€the€rightÐ * a  Ðto€communicate€with€relatives€or€friends,€the€right€to€a€fair€trial€andÐ í $  Ðguarantees€relating€to€double€jeopardy€„€had€been€acted€on€by€SriLanka'sÐ °ç  Ðcourts€over€the€years,€but€did€not€possess€the€sanctity€that€would€be€affordedÐ sª  Ðby€their€presence€in€the€Constitution.€€Article13,€paragraph€2,€for€example,Ð 6m  Ðmade€no€express€mention€of€the€time-span€that€might€elapse€before€an€arrestedÐ ù0  Ðperson€was€produced€before€a€judicial€officer;€although€the€24„hour€rule€wasÐ ¼ó  Ðembodied€in€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure,€it€had€not€previously€foundÐ ¶  Ðexpression€in€the€Constitution.€€Under€the€proposed€reforms€it€would€do€so.Ð By ÐÌ9.à b àThe€various€commissions€inquiring€into€the€circumstances€attendingÐ Èÿ Ðspecific€political€assassinations€had€been€set€up€under€the€SpecialÐ ‹Â ÐPresidential€Commissions€of€Inquiry€Act,€and€some€had€begun€their€work.€Ð N… ÐOthers€were€yet€to€be€appointed.Ð H ÐÌ10.à b àAs€to€the€Women's€Charter,€he€explained€that€the€body€responsible€for€itsÐ —Î Ðimplementation€was€the€National€Committee€on€Women;€the€Committee,€among€otherÐ Z‘ Ðthings,€sought€to€promote€the€provisions€of€the€Charter,€which,€although€itÐ T Ðmight€not€be€binding€in€the€legal€sense,€had€a€clear€defacto€authority€andÐ à Ðwas€being€put€into€effect.Ð £Ú ÐÌ11.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€invited€the€Sri€Lankan€delegation€to€answer€the€additionalÐ )`  Ðquestions€put€by€members€of€the€Committee€subsequent€to€its€replies€to€theÐ ì#! Ðquestions€set€out€in€section€II€of€the€list€of€issues.Ð ¯æ" ÐÌ12.à b àòòMr.€PERERAóó€(Sri€Lanka)€said€that€corporal€punishment€employed€againstÐ 5 l$ Ðprisoners€and€detainees€either€as€a€punishment€or€as€a€disciplinary€measureÐ ø /% Ðhad€been€suspended€for€the€past€10€years.€€Ð »!ò& ÐÌ13.à b àPrison€visits€by€magistrates€were€provided€for€under€the€EmergencyÐ A#x( ÐRegulations,€but€it€had€been€found€that€their€regularity€was€affected€byÐ $;) Ðmagistrates'€case„loads€and€the€distance€they€had€to€travel.€€However,€inÐ Ç$þ* Ðgeneral,€the€law€was€being€adhered€to€and€the€visits€took€place.Ð Š%Á + ÐÌ14.à b àThe€courts€had€discretion€to€release€detainees€during€an€emergency.€€InÐ 'G"- Ðorder€to€extend€the€period€of€detention€beyond€the€maximum€of€one€year,€aÐ Ó' #. Ðsuspect€must€be€produced€before€a€magistrate€prior€to€the€expiry€of€the€periodÐ –(Í#/ Ðof€detention.€€The€magistrate€would€examine€the€report€submitted€by€theÐ Y)$0 ÐSecretary€to€the€Ministry€of€Defence€setting€out€the€facts€on€the€basis€ofÐ *S%1 Ðwhich€the€person€was€detained€and€the€reasons€for€extending€the€period€ofÐ ß*&2 Ðdetention,€and€if€he€was€not€satisfied€that€there€were€reasonable€grounds€forÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðextending€the€period€of€detention,€the€suspect€would€be€discharged.€€Visits€toÐ e,œ'4 Ðdetainees€held€in€places€under€the€authority€of€the€Secretary€to€the€MinistryÐ (-_(5 Ðof€Defence€were€allowed€with€the€Secretary's€approval€after€verification€ofÐ É Ðthe€identities€of€the€visiting€next„of„kin€or€lawyers€and€the€stated€need€forÐ ŒÃ Ðthe€visits.€€In€January€1992€the€procedure€had€been€changed,€and€visitors€nowÐ O† Ðhad€to€apply€directly€to€the€officer„in„charge€of€the€detention€centreÐ I Ðconcerned.€€All€detention€camps€other€than€prisons€operating€under€theÐ Õ  ÐEmergency€Regulations€and€the€Prevention€of€Terrorism€Act€were€registeredÐ ˜Ï Ðunder€the€Prisons€Ordinance€and€had€to€be€listed€in€the€Official€Gazette;Ð [ ’ ÐGazette€Extraordinary€No.€851/7€of€21€December€1994€listed€81€places€ofÐ  U Ðdetention,€representing€a€substantial€reduction€on€the€previous€figure€becauseÐ á  Ðof€the€large€number€of€detainees€who€had€been€moved€to€prison€custody.€€Ð ¤ Û  ÐÌ15.à b àAs€for€the€question€of€access€to€detainees€and€the€legal€validity€ofÐ * a  Ðpresidential€directives,€he€said€that€members€of€the€Human€Rights€TaskÐ í $  ÐForce(HRTF)€or€any€person€authorized€by€it€was€granted€access€to€a€personÐ °ç  Ðarrested€under€the€Prevention€of€Terrorism€Act€or€the€Emergency€Regulations,Ð sª  Ðand€was€permitted€to€enter€at€any€time€any€place€of€detention,€police€stationÐ 6m  Ðor€other€place€where€the€person€was€being€held.€€The€HRTF€regulations€wereÐ ù0  Ðpromulgated€under€the€Public€Security€Ordinance,€and€Regulation€No.€8€providedÐ ¼ó  Ðthat€the€President€might€give€such€directions€to€the€heads€of€the€armed€forcesÐ ¶  Ðand€to€the€police€as€in€her€opinion€were€necessary€to€enable€the€HRTF€toÐ By Ðexercise€and€perform€its€powers,€functions€and€duties,€and€to€ensure€that€theÐ < Ðfundamental€rights€of€persons€arrested€or€detained€were€respected.€€The€factÐ Èÿ Ðthat€the€regulations€and€directives€issued€thereunder€were€vested€with€legalÐ ‹Â Ðauthority€was€beyond€question.Ð N… ÐÌ16.à b àThere€were€no€plans€to€repeal€the€Special€Presidential€Commissions€ofÐ Ô  ÐInquiry€Act.€€A€number€of€presidential€commissions€had€been€appointed€and€wereÐ —Î Ðfunctioning,€while€others€had€not€yet€started.€Ð Z‘ ЀÌ17.à b àAs€for€the€provision€that€an€order€of€a€commission€should€be€final€andÐ à Ðconclusive,€Sri€Lankan€courts€had€traditionally€interpreted€such€language€inÐ £Ú Ðstatutes€in€a€restrictive€manner;€when€a€statute€expressly€stated€that€aÐ f Ðdecision€or€order€was€final€and€conclusive€and€should€not€be€challenged€in€aÐ )`  Ðcourt€of€law,€the€courts€had€held€that€the€inherent€power€of€the€courts€toÐ ì#! Ðexercise€jurisdiction€in€such€cases€was€not€annulled€where€the€order€orÐ ¯æ" Ðdecision€was€manifestly€bad€in€law.Ð r©# ÐÌ18.à b àArticle€13,€paragraph5,€of€the€Constitution€laid€down€the€principle€ofÐ ø /% Ðthe€presumption€of€innocence€and€provided€that€the€burden€of€proving€certainÐ »!ò& Ðfacts€lay€with€the€accused.€€For€example,€under€the€Bribery€Act,€when€a€publicÐ ~"µ' Ðservant€accepted€a€sum€of€money€from€a€member€of€the€public€it€was€presumedÐ A#x( Ðthat€the€money€was€in€payment€for€a€service€to€be€performed€by€the€publicÐ $;) Ðservant€unless€the€latter€could€show€legitimate€cause€to€accept€it.€€TheÐ Ç$þ* Ðburden€of€proof€lay€with€the€accused,€but€the€onus€of€proving€guilt€beyondÐ Š%Á + Ðreasonable€doubt€always€rested€with€the€prosecution.Ð M&„!, ÐÌ19.à b àTurning€to€the€question€regarding€confessions€made€by€detainees€under€theÐ Ó' #. Ðemergency€legislation,€he€said€that€the€courts€had€been€extremely€reluctant€toÐ –(Í#/ Ðconvict€on€the€basis€of€confessions€alone.€€A€number€of€inquiries€had€beenÐ Y)$0 Ðmade€in€the€courts€in€respect€of€prosecutions€under€the€Prevention€ofÐ *S%1 ÐTerrorism€Act€in€order€to€ascertain€whether€confessions€had€been€obtainedÐ ß*&2 Ðvoluntarily€or€not,€and€in€several€cases€the€courts€had€categorically€rejectedÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðstatements€when€they€did€not€meet€the€high€standard€of€proof€required€by€theÐ e,œ'4 Ðlaw.€€Such€cases€had€been€given€wide€coverage€in€the€media.€€Ð (-_(5 Ї20.à b àAs€for€criminal€acts€committed€by€children,€he€said€that€no€act€committedÐ É Ðby€a€child€under€the€age€of€8€was€regarded€as€an€offence,€and€in€the€case€ofÐ ŒÃ Ðchildren€aged€between€8€and€12€it€was€a€matter€for€judicial€determinationÐ O† Ðwhether,€having€regard€to€all€the€evidence€placed€before€the€court,€a€childÐ I Ðhad€or€had€not€acquired€sufficient€maturity€of€understanding€to€judge€theÐ Õ  Ðnature€and€consequences€of€his€acts.€€Ð ˜Ï ÐÌ21.à b àAnswering€a€question€about€the€alleged€reluctance€on€the€part€ofÐ  U ÐSriLankan€courts€to€examine€the€validity€of€detention€orders€made€by€aÐ á  ÐMinister€under€section9€of€the€Prevention€of€Terrorism€Act,€he€said€the€CourtÐ ¤ Û  Ðof€Appeal€had€had€no€hesitation€in€awarding€compensation€in€habeascorpusÐ g ž  Ðmatters€affecting€detentions€under€the€Prevention€of€Terrorism€Act€where€thereÐ * a  Ðwas€evidence€that€the€person€had€been€taken€into€custody€by€a€security€officerÐ í $  Ðand€the€person€was€not€produced€before€the€court.€€Ð °ç  ÐÌ22.à b àFinally,€referring€to€the€question€regarding€the€procedure€for€theÐ 6m  Ðremoval€of€judges€of€the€SupremeCourt€and€the€Court€of€Appeal,€he€said€thatÐ ù0  Ðunder€the€SriLankan€Constitution€such€judges€could€hold€office€only€duringÐ ¼ó  Ðtheir€good€behaviour€and€could€not€be€removed€except€by€an€order€of€theÐ ¶  ÐPresident€made€after€an€address€of€Parliament.€€No€resolution€for€theÐ By Ðpresentation€of€such€an€address€could€be€entertained€by€the€Speaker€or€placedÐ < Ðon€the€Parliamentary€Order€Paper€unless€notice€of€such€a€resolution€was€signedÐ Èÿ Ðby€not€less€than€one€third€of€all€MPs€and€set€out€in€full€the€particulars€ofÐ ‹Â Ðthe€alleged€misbehaviour€or€incapacity€on€the€part€of€the€judge.€€Once€aÐ N… Ðresolution€was€placed€on€the€Order€Paper,€the€Speaker€must€appoint€a€SelectÐ H ÐCommittee€comprising€no€fewer€than€seven€MPs€which€would€investigate€andÐ Ô  Ðreport€to€Parliament€on€the€allegations.€€A€copy€of€the€allegations€had€toÐ —Î Ðbesent€to€the€judge,€and€he€was€required€to€make€a€written€statement€inÐ Z‘ Ðhisdefence;€he€also€had€the€right€to€be€heard€in€person€or€through€aÐ T Ðrepresentative.€€The€Select€Committee€was€required€to€report€its€findings,Ð à Ðtogether€with€the€minutes€of€any€evidence€it€had€taken,€to€Parliament,€whichÐ £Ú Ðwould€then€adopt€a€resolution€for€the€presentation€of€an€address.€€The€SpeakerÐ f Ðwas€required€to€submit€that€resolution€to€the€President.€€Ð )`  ÐÌ23.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€invited€members€of€the€Committee€who€so€wished€to€putÐ ¯æ" Ðadditional€questions€in€the€light€of€the€replies€by€the€delegation€ofÐ r©# ÐSriLanka€to€sectionIII€of€the€list€of€issues.Ð 5 l$ ÐÌ24.à b àòòMs.€EVATTóó€said€that€SriLanka's€Bribery€(Amendment)€Act€of€1994€extendedÐ »!ò& Ðthe€definition€of€public€servant€to€include€Ministers€and€MPs€and€augmentedÐ ~"µ' Ðthe€offence€and€penalty€as€well.€€Section18,€paragraph1,€of€the€Act€statedÐ A#x( Ðthat€the€amendment€was€deemed€for€all€purposes€to€have€come€into€force€on€theÐ $;) Ðdate€of€commencement€of€the€principal€enactment.€€In€other€words,€a€completelyÐ Ç$þ* Ðnew€class€of€offenders,€offences€and€penalties€had€been€created€retroactively.€Ð Š%Á + ÐThat€was€contrary€to€the€provisions€of€article15€of€the€Covenant,€which€was€aÐ M&„!, Ðnon-derogable€provision.€€Ð 'G"- ÐÌÐ  –(Í#/ Ð25.à b àShe€had€been€informed€that€Tamils€residing€in€the€Colombo€region€wereÐ É Ðrequired€to€register€that€fact;€if€that€were€the€case,€it€would€seem€to€be€aÐ ŒÃ Ðrestriction€on€their€freedom€of€movement,€and€hence€contrary€to€article12€ofÐ O† Ðthe€Covenant.€€Ð I ÐÌ26.à b àTurning€to€article19€of€the€Covenant,€she€asked€what€progress€had€beenÐ ˜Ï Ðmade€by€the€four€committees€established€in€SriLanka€the€previous€year€toÐ [ ’ Ðinquire€into€the€reform€of€laws€governing€the€media.€€She€also€asked€if€theyÐ  U Ðwould€be€examining€constitutional€questions,€because€article14,€paragraphs1,Ð á  Ð7€and€8,€which€allowed€for€restrictions€on€freedom€of€expression,€couldÐ ¤ Û  Ðclearly€result€in€limitations€that€went€beyond€those€permitted€by€theÐ g ž  ÐCovenant.€€Ð * a  ÐÌ27.à b àThe€scope€of€the€SriLankan€Official€Secrets€Act€was€wider€thanÐ °ç  Ðjustifiedunder€the€national€security€restrictions€permitted€by€the€Covenant.€Ð sª  ÐIt€defined€official€secrets€in€such€a€manner€as€to€include€any€information€atÐ 6m  Ðall€relating€to€a€prohibited€place€or€its€contents,€to€the€armed€forces€andÐ ù0  Ðits€equipment,€or€to€any€establishment€that€could€be€used€for€the€purposes€ofÐ ¼ó  Ðdefence.€€Making€public€such€information€was€presumed€to€be€harmful€to€StateÐ ¶  Ðinterests,€and€she€wondered€whether€the€provisions€of€the€Act€were€beingÐ By Ðreviewed€with€the€purpose€of€narrowing€them€to€comply€with€the€Covenant,€andÐ < Ðto€ensure€that€the€burden€of€proof€remained€with€the€State.Ð Èÿ ÐÌ28.à b àShe€understood€that€the€new€draft€Penal€Code€still€criminalizedÐ N… Ðhomosexual€behaviour€between€consenting€adults,€and€that€there€was€anÐ H Ðintention€to€introduce€into€the€Constitution€new€provisions€relating€toÐ Ô  Ðprivacy.€€She€wondered€if€the€SriLankan€authorities€would€take€theÐ —Î Ðopportunity€to€review€those€provisions.Ð Z‘ ÐÌ29.à b àThe€practice€of€marrying€girls€as€from€the€age€of€12€under€Muslim€law€wasÐ à Ðof€significant€concern,€in€particular€since,€as€the€recent€report€of€SriLankaÐ £Ú Ðto€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€againstÐ f ÐWomen€(CEDAW)€revealed,€the€consent€requirement€was€often€breached€in€thatÐ )`  Ðcommunity.€€Having€defined€a€child€as€a€person€below€the€age€of€14,€and€setÐ ì#! Ðthe€legal€age€for€marriage€at€18,€would€SriLanka€now€review€that€practice?Ð ¯æ" ÐÌ30.à b àShe€asked€the€SriLankan€delegation€to€describe€what€actions,€if€any,Ð 5 l$ ÐitsGovernment€was€taking€to€combat€the€sexual€exploitation€of€children€byÐ ø /% Ðforeign€visitors.€€Available€figures€suggested€that€10,000€boys€and€girls,Ð »!ò& Ðparticularly€children€of€families€that€were€burdened€by€poverty,€were€at€risk.€Ð ~"µ' ÐFinally,€what€measures,€if€any,€was€SriLanka€taking€to€rehabilitate€childÐ A#x( Ðvictims€of€armed€conflict,€whether€as€refugees,€displaced€persons€or€witnessesÐ $;) Ðto€traumatizing€acts€of€violence?Ð Ç$þ* ÐÌ31.à b àòòMr.€BUERGENTHALóó€said€that€a€question€he€had€posed€remained€unanswered:€Ð M&„!, Ðhad€the€additional€information€submitted€by€the€Government€been€shared€withÐ 'G"- ÐNGOs€and,€in€particular,€with€the€Human€Rights€Advisory€Group?Ð Ó' #. ÐÌ32.à b àHis€principal€concern,€however,€related€to€children€and€to€article27,Ð Y)$0 Ðparagraph€13,€of€the€SriLankan€Constitution,€which€guaranteed€theirÐ *S%1 Ðprotection€from€exploitation€and€discrimination.€€Documents€submitted€toÐ ß*&2 ÐtheAsian€regional€seminar€on€children€in€bondage,€held€at€Islamabad€inÐ ¢+Ù&3 ÐNovember1993,€and€organized€by€the€International€Labour€Office€and€the€CentreÐ e,œ'4 Ðfor€Human€Rights,€indicated€that€SriLankan€children€were€brought€from€ruralÐ (-_(5 Ðareas€to€urban€areas€by€agents€and€subjected€to€forced€labour,€particularly€asÐ É Ðdomestic€servants.€€Families€lost€contact€with€such€children;€virtuallyÐ ŒÃ Ðabandoned,€they€were€left€with€no€choice€but€to€remain€with€their€masters.€Ð O† ÐThe€women€and€children's€bureau€of€the€Sri€Lankan€police€force€had€in€recentÐ I Ðyears€received€over€1,000€complaints€to€the€effect€that€such€children€had€beenÐ Õ  Ðbrutalized,€beaten€and€burned;€as€statistics€were€difficult€to€obtain,€theÐ ˜Ï Ðreal€figures€were€probably€much€higher.€€Documents€submitted€to€the€seminarÐ [ ’ Ðalso€referred€to€bondage€and€child€labour€in€fishing€camps€on€the€smallÐ  U Ðislands€off€the€western€and€north„eastern€coasts€of€that€country.€€He€askedÐ á  Ðthe€Sri€Lankan€delegation€to€provide€information€on€bonded€children€and€toÐ ¤ Û  Ðdescribe€what€programmes€and€actions€it€was€undertaking€to€protect€them.€€TheÐ g ž  Ðseminar€had€recommended€that€the€Sri€Lankan€Government€should€adopt€a€nationalÐ * a  Ðprogramme€to€combat€child€servitude.€€Had€that€been€done?Ð í $  ÐÌ33.à b àòòMr.€BððNóó€said€the€Sri€Lankan€delegation€had€stated€that€the€rightsÐ sª  Ðguaranteed€by€articles12,€18,€19,€21€and€22€of€the€Covenant€were€no€longerÐ 6m  Ðsubject€to€restriction€under€the€state€of€emergency.€€It€was€inconceivable,Ð ù0  Ðhowever,€that€those€rights€could€in€fact€be€fully€implemented€under€theÐ ¼ó  Ðcurrent€circumstances.€€He€asked€whether€travel€to€all€parts€of€SriLanka€wasÐ ¶  Ðnow€open€to€all;€whether€internal€travel€was€restricted;€whether€SriLankanÐ By Ðcitizens€living€in€the€Northern€and€Eastern€Provinces€were€permitted€to€travelÐ < Ðabroad;€what€was€the€procedure€for€obtaining€an€exist€visa€for€those€persons;Ð Èÿ Ðwhether€the€right€to€freedom€of€assembly€was€upheld;€whether€all€persons€wereÐ ‹Â Ðpermitted€to€exercise€that€right;€whether€street€demonstrations€were€allowedÐ N… Ðin€Colombo;€whether€SriLankans€enjoyed€the€right€to€form€associations;€andÐ H Ðwhether€they€were€permitted€to€organize€trade€unions€andtocreate€newÐ Ô  Ðpolitical€parties.€€With€the€easing€of€a€certain€number€ofthe€EmergencyÐ —Î ÐRegulations,€some€of€those€rights€could€presumably€now€be€enjoyed€inÐ Z‘ ÐSriLanka,€but€it€would€be€helpful€if€the€delegation€could€provide€furtherÐ T Ðclarification€on€that€matter.Ð à ÐÌ34.à b àAs€he€understood€it,€only€under€the€terms€of€article15,Ð f Ðparagraphs3and4,€of€the€Constitution€could€restrictions€be€imposed€onÐ )`  Ðtheexercise€of€the€essential€freedoms€enumerated€in€article14.€€ThoseÐ ì#! Ðprovisions€stipulated€that€the€fundamental€rights€in€question€could€beÐ ¯æ" Ðrestricted€"in€the€interests€of€racial€and€religious€harmony".€€He€invitedÐ r©# ÐtheSriLankan€delegation€to€give€an€explanation€of€that€enigmatic€clause.€Ð 5 l$ ÐÌ35.à b àTo€the€concerns€voiced€by€Ms.€Evatt€and€Mr.€Buergenthal€with€respect€toÐ »!ò& Ðthe€protection€of€children,€he€wished€to€add€his€own:€€he€had€recently€watchedÐ ~"µ' Ða€heartbreaking€programme€on€French€television€depicting€the€prostitution€ofÐ A#x( Ðyoung€boys€to€foreign€visitors€in€Sri€Lanka.€€What€measures€was€the€GovernmentÐ $;) Ðadopting€to€protect€such€children€and€what€criminal€actions€was€it€takingÐ Ç$þ* Ðagainst€those€who€so€grievously€violated€the€rights€of€children?€€Furthermore,Ð Š%Á + Ðhe€inquired€about€the€accuracy€of€reports€that€SriLankans€frequently€sentÐ M&„!, Ðchildren€abroad€for€foreign€adoption€in€exchange€for€payment.€€Was€the€foreignÐ 'G"- Ðadoption€of€Sri€Lankan€children€subject€to€any€form€of€protection€orÐ Ó' #. Ðsupervision?Ð –(Í#/ ÐÌ36.à b àòòMr.€Bhagwati€took€the€Chairóó.Ð *S%1 ÐÌ37.à b àòòMr.€KLEINóó€said€that€he€was€perplexed€by€the€statement€in€paragraph76€ofÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðthe€report€that€no€citizen€of€SriLanka€could€be€denied€a€passport€to€leaveÐ e,œ'4 Ðthe€country;€most€States,€including€liberal€democracies,€restricted€the€rightÐ (-_(5 Ðto€leave€on€certain€grounds,€such€as,€for€example,€to€protect€nationalÐ É Ðsecurity,€or€the€rights€and€freedom€of€others.€€Those€exceptions€were€inÐ ŒÃ Ðfactpermitted€under€the€terms€of€article12€of€the€Covenant.Ð O† ÐÌ38.à b àòòMr.€LALLAHóó€said€that€the€report€of€Sri€Lanka€contained€little€informationÐ Õ  Ðabout€article19€and€the€impact€of€the€Emergency€Regulations€on€the€rightsÐ ˜Ï Ðguaranteed€thereunder.€€He€asked€to€what€extent€censorship€was€practised€inÐ [ ’ ÐSriLanka;€whether€newspapers€had€been€banned;€whether€any€journalists€hadÐ  U Ðbeen€detained,€investigated€or€prosecuted€and,€if€so,€for€what€reason;€andÐ á  Ðwhether€journalists€sympathizing€with€the€Liberation€Tigers€of€TamilEelamÐ ¤ Û  Ð(LTTE)€were€causing€problems€for€the€Government.Ð g ž  ÐÌ39.à b àAn€amendment€to€the€Constitution€had€been€mooted€which€would€reinforceÐ í $  Ðthe€authority€of€Parliament€by€providing€that€journalists€in€contempt€ofÐ °ç  ÐParliament€would€be€subject€to€parliamentary€adjudication.€€Such€a€provisionÐ sª  Ðwas€not€in€keeping€with€the€terms€of€the€Covenant,€in€particular€ifÐ 6m  Ðarticles14€and€19€were€considered€together.€€It€should€also€be€noted€thatÐ ù0  Ðarticle25€established€the€right€of€an€individual€to€choose€an€electedÐ ¼ó  Ðrepresentative,€who€should€represent€his€views.€€Furthermore,€the€press€mustÐ ¶  Ðbe€permitted€to€inform€the€electors€about€how€their€elected€representativesÐ By Ðconducted€themselves.€€Parliament€must€not€act€as€both€judge€and€jury.€€ItÐ < Ðwould€be€useful€to€know€what€punishments„€whether€fine€or€imprisonment-€hadÐ Èÿ Ðbeen€envisaged€by€Parliament€for€an€offence€against€itself.€€Most€essential,Ð ‹Â Ðof€course,€was€the€question€of€why€the€courts€were€not€empowered€to€try€suchÐ N… Ðpersons,€thereby€according€them€the€rights€guaranteed€under€article14€of€theÐ H ÐCovenant.Ð Ô  ÐÌ40.à b àòòMr.€KRETZMERóó€said€that€the€delegation€had,€in€answer€to€his€query,Ð Z‘ Ðconfirmed€that€the€Sixth€Amendment€to€the€Constitution€of€SriLanka€in€factÐ T Ðproscribed€parties€that€advocated€separatism€even€if€they€were€committed€toÐ à Ðdemocratic€and€peaceful€means;€it€had€not,€however,€stated€whether€thatÐ £Ú ÐAmendment,€in€the€view€of€the€Government,€was€consistent€with€article25€ofÐ f Ðthe€Covenant.Ð )`  ÐÌ41.à b àIt€had€come€to€his€attention€that,€especially€during€election€times,€theÐ ¯æ" ÐSriLankan€Government€had€on€occasion€manipulated€radio€and€television€in€itsÐ r©# Ðfavour.€€Did€the€new€Government€envisage€the€privatization€of€the€electronicÐ 5 l$ Ðmedia€and€did€it,€concomitantly,€contemplate€the€establishment€of€anÐ ø /% Ðindependent€body€to€oversee€the€media€which€would€not€be€subject€to€directÐ »!ò& ÐGovernment€manipulation?Ð ~"µ' ÐÌ42.à b àòòMr.€ANDOóó€recalled,€with€reference€to€article19,€that,€at€the€time€ofÐ $;) ÐtheCommittee's€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€report,€the€SriLankanÐ Ç$þ* Ðdelegation€had€stated€that€freedom€of€speech€was€guaranteed€by€theÐ Š%Á + ÐConstitution,€and€further€that€the€Press€Council€oversaw€press€activities,Ð M&„!, Ðpeer€supervision€being€thought€preferable€to€governmental€control.€€What€wereÐ 'G"- Ðthe€procedural€requirements€for€opening€a€privately€owned€television€or€radioÐ Ó' #. Ðstation€in€SriLanka?Ð –(Í#/ ÐÌ43.à b àConcerns€had€been€voiced€about€the€conditions€of€Asian€and€Indian€migrantÐ *S%1 Ðworkers€in€the€free-trade€zones,€in€consideration€of€articles22€and€23€of€theÐ ß*&2 ÐCovenant.€€If€such€persons€were€not€allowed€either€to€organize€or€to€engage€inÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðcollective€bargaining,€from€what€alternative€protection€did€they€benefit?Ð e,œ'4 ÐÐ (-_(5 Ð44.à b àòòMr.€PRADO€VALLEJOóó€sad€that€a€provision€which€made€it€a€crime€to€criticizeÐ É ÐParliament€could€only€be€seen€as€unacceptable.€€On€what€basis€was€thatÐ ŒÃ Ðparliamentary€privilege€established?€€He€further€noted€that€article15€of€theÐ O† ÐConstitution€of€SriLanka€imposed€considerable€limitations€on€the€right€toÐ I Ðfreedom€of€expression.€€In€a€free,€democratic€society,€no€such€limitationsÐ Õ  Ðshould€exist.€€He€found€it€astonishing€that€such€restrictions€should€beÐ ˜Ï Ðestablished€at€the€constitutional€level;€no€parliament€on€earth€should€beÐ [ ’ Ðconsidered€infallible.Ð  U ÐÌ45.à b àòòMs.€MEDINA€QUIROGAóó€said€that€she€had€wished€to€know€not€whether€placesÐ ¤ Û  Ðofdetention€other€than€prisons€existed,€but€whether€similar€safeguards€wereÐ g ž  Ðapplied€in€such€places.€€It€was€not€clear€to€her€how€the€right€toÐ * a  Ðhabeascorpus€was€applied€in€Sri€Lanka.Ð í $  ÐÌ46.à b àShe€shared€the€concerns€expressed€by€other€members€of€the€Committee€withÐ sª  Ðregard€to€the€protection€of€children.€€Some€of€the€data€supplied€by€Sri€LankaÐ 6m  Ðwere€striking:€€she€inquired€whether€that€country€was€contemplatingÐ ù0  Ðlegislation€that€would€require€parents€to€send€children€under€the€age€of€14€toÐ ¼ó  Ðschool,€since€none€such€existed.€€Furthermore,€there€were€evidently€variousÐ ¶  Ðoperative€definitions€of€childhood,€in€respect€of€marriage,€criminalÐ By Ðresponsibility,€etc.€€She€asked€whether€the€Government€of€Sri€Lanka€hadÐ < Ðconsidered€the€possibility€of€adopting€a€standardized€definition.€€On€theÐ Èÿ Ðbasis€of€what€objective€criteria€did€a€judge€determine€that€a€child€of€eightÐ ‹Â Ðwas€mature€enough€to€comprehend€that€he€had€committed€a€crime€and€shouldÐ N… Ðtherefore€be€criminally€liable?€€Finally,€with€regard€to€the€right€to€freedomÐ H Ðof€association€guaranteed€under€article€22,€she€inquired€whether€any€actionÐ Ô  Ðhad€been€taken€pursuant€to€the€recommendations€to€emerge€from€the€commissionÐ —Î Ðof€inquiry€concerning€NGOs.Ð Z‘ ÐÌ47.à b àòòMr.€Aguilar€Urbina€resumed€the€Chairóó.Ð à ÐÌ48.à b àòòMr.€PERERAóó€(Sri€Lanka)€said€that€the€original€Bribery€Act€had€contained€aÐ f Ðrather€limited€definition€of€bribery.€€In€recent€years,€however,€instances€ofÐ )`  Ðlarge„scale€corruption€had€come€to€light.€€The€relevant€amendment€proscribedÐ ì#! Ðany€use€of€public€office€for€private€gain,€and€explicitly€defined€the€termÐ ¯æ" Ð"public€servant"€as€encompassing€all€governmental€workers€at€all€levels.€Ð r©# ÐÌ48.à b àA€question€had€been€raised€as€to€the€registration€of€Tamil€nationals€inÐ ø /% ÐColombo.€€It€should€firstly€be€pointed€out€that€given€the€crisis€prevailing€inÐ »!ò& ÐSriLanka,€such€persons€tended€to€be€perceived€as€posing€a€grave€threat€toÐ ~"µ' Ðnational€security.€€Secondly,€however,€not€only€Tamil€nationals€but€allÐ A#x( Ðpersons€from€outside€Colombo€who€took€up€residence€in€that€city€had€beenÐ $;) Ðobliged€to€be€registered.€€That€regulation€was,€however,€no€longer€in€force.€Ð Ç$þ* ÐÌ50.à b àTo€date,€no€proposals€had€been€put€forward€to€delete€the€offence€ofÐ M&„!, Ðhomosexuality€from€the€Sri€Lankan€Penal€Code.€€Ð 'G"- ÐÌ51.à b àBecause€of€a€shortage€of€time,€the€additional€information€submitted€byÐ –(Í#/ ÐSri€Lanka€had€not€in€fact€been€reviewed€by€the€Human€Rights€Advisory€Group.€Ð Y)$0 ÐOn€the€other€hand,€the€Government€was€in€constant€contact€with€that€body,€andÐ *S%1 Ðbased€most€of€its€actions€in€the€area€of€human€rights€on€those€consultations;Ð ß*&2 Ðthe€contents€of€the€report€itself€had€been€determined€in€that€way.Ð ¢+Ù&3 Ðâ âÐ e,œ'4 Ð52.à b àThe€Emergency€Regulations€stipulated€that,€for€travel€within€Sri€Lanka,Ð É Ðâ âpermission€must€be€obtained€from€the€Ministry€of€Defence;€travel€abroad€was,Ð ŒÃ Ðhowever,€not€subject€to€the€emergency€regime.€€An€individual€wishing€to€travelÐ O† Ðabroad€must€prove€that€he€had€adequate€funds;€individuals€involved€in€aÐ I Ðpending€criminal€action€were€not€permitted€to€leave.€€There€were€noÐ Õ  Ðrestrictions€on€street€demonstrations,€which€occurred€regularly€in€Sri€Lanka.Ð ˜Ï ÐÌ53.à b àIn€recent€years,€the€Government€had€paid€considerable€attention€to€theÐ  U Ðmatter€of€foreign€adoption.€€After€the€revelations€of€widespread€corruption€inÐ á  Ðthe€practice€of€private€adoption€of€Sri€Lankan€children€by€mostly€EuropeanÐ ¤ Û  Ðparents,€the€Adoption€Act€had€been€amended€to€require€that€all€adoptionÐ g ž  Ðrequests€should€be€submitted€to€the€Adoption€and€Child€Care€Commission,€whichÐ * a  Ðarrived€at€a€decision€on€the€basis€of€home€study€reports€assessing€theÐ í $  Ðsuitability€of€prospective€adoptive€parents,€which€were€drawn€up€by€recognizedÐ °ç  Ðinstitutions€in€the€country€of€adoption.€€Only€applications€for€the€adoptionÐ sª  Ðof€children€from€government€institutions,€not€from€private€families,€wereÐ 6m  Ðconsidered.€€It€should€also€be€noted€that€Sri€Lanka€had€been€the€first€AsianÐ ù0  Ðcountry€to€adopt€the€International€Convention€on€the€Protection€of€ChildrenÐ ¼ó  Ðand€Co„operation€in€respect€of€Inter„country€Adoption.€Ð ¶  ÐÌ54.€à b àWith€regard€to€freedom€of€expression,€some€provisions€of€the€EmergencyÐ < ÐRegulations€such€as€those€regarding€censorship€and€incitement€to€sedition€hadÐ Èÿ Ðbeen€annulled.€€No€newspaper€was€banned€and€there€was€a€very€active€pressÐ ‹Â Ðpublishing€in€Sinhala,€Tamil€and€English.€€Ð N… ÐÌ55.à b àThe€Sixth€Amendment€to€the€Constitution€was€still€in€force.€€The€SeventhÐ Ô  ÐSchedule€had€been€added€to€the€Constitution€under€the€Sixth€Amendment€toÐ —Î Ðprohibit€the€advocacy€of€secession.€€A€person€could€not€claim€to€uphold€theÐ Z‘ ÐConstitution€while€at€the€same€time€advocating€the€establishment€of€a€separateÐ T ÐState€within€the€territory€of€Sri€Lanka.Ð à ÐÌ56.à b àArticle€16,€paragraph1,€of€the€Constitution,€under€which€all€existingÐ f Ðwritten€and€unwritten€law€would€remain€in€force€notwithstanding€anyÐ )`  Ðinconsistency€with€the€preceding€provisions€of€the€chapter€of€the€ConstitutionÐ ì#! Ðconcerning€fundamental€rights,€was€to€be€viewed€as€a€transitional€provision€toÐ ¯æ" Ðensure€continuity€of€the€law€when€a€new€statute€or€Constitution€was€enactedÐ r©# Ðwithout€needing€to€amend€each€and€every€act€at€once.€€He€gave€as€an€exampleÐ 5 l$ Ðthe€amendment€of€all€references€to€"Governor„General"€in€the€country'sÐ ø /% Ðlegislation€to€read€"President".Ð »!ò& ÐÌ57.à b àThe€right€of€parliamentary€privilege,€inherited€from€the€United€Kingdom,Ð A#x( Ðin€no€way€precluded€valid€criticism€of€MPs.€€Parliamentary€proceedings€wereÐ $;) Ðfreely€discussed€in€the€press€and€parliamentary€privilege,€of€which€theÐ Ç$þ* ÐSpeaker€of€Parliament€was€the€custodian,€could€only€be€breached€by€an€actÐ Š%Á + Ðamounting€to€the€propagation€of€an€untruth.Ð M&„!, ÐÌ58.à b àThe€Emergency€Regulations€required€places€of€detention€other€than€prisonsÐ Ó' #. Ðto€be€listed€in€the€Official€Gazette.€€Gazette€Extraordinary€No.€851/7€ofÐ –(Í#/ Ð21December€1994€enumerated€81€such€places.Ð Y)$0 ÐÌ59.à b àWhere€there€was€an€allegation€of€wrongful€detention,€a€writ€ofÐ ß*&2 Ðhabeascorpus€could€be€issued€ordering€the€person€concerned€to€be€broughtÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðbefore€a€court.€€Failure€to€comply€with€that€order€without€due€cause€couldÐ e,œ'4 Ðentail€penal€and€other€consequences.€€In€the€case€of€orders€under€section€9€ofÐ (-_(5 Ðthe€Prevention€of€Terrorism€Act,€if€a€court€was€satisfied€that€an€arrestingÐ É Ðofficer€was€unable€to€produce€a€detained€person€or€to€provide€justificationsÐ ŒÃ Ðregarding€the€conditions€of€detention,€it€could€grant€compensation€or€otherÐ O† Ðrelief.Ð I ÐÌ60.à b àThe€Commission€on€Non„Governmental€Organizations€had€made€a€number€ofÐ ˜Ï Ðrecommendations.€€For€example,€Emergency€Regulations€introduced€to€controlÐ [ ’ ÐNGOs€had€been€cancelled.€€The€only€remaining€requirements€were€for€NGOs€toÐ  U Ðregister€under€the€Societies€Ordinance€and€to€enter€into€agreements€with€theÐ á  ÐMinistry€of€Finance€and€Planning.Ð ¤ Û  ÐÌ61.à b àòòMr.€GOONETILLEKEóó€(Sri€Lanka)€said€that€a€newspaper€group€currently€underÐ * a  Ðgovernment€control€was€to€be€privatized.€€Sri€Lanka's€vibrant€press€includedÐ í $  Ðseveral€daily€and€weekly€newspapers€and€numerous€tabloids€published€byÐ °ç  Ðpolitical€parties€and€interest€groups.€€They€carried€reports€on€theÐ sª  ÐPresident's€activities,€Cabinet€decisions€and€military€strategy€and€evenÐ 6m  Ðmaterial€provided€by€the€LTTE.€€There€were€also€a€number€of€private€radio€andÐ ù0  Ðtelevision€stations.Ð ¼ó  ÐÌ62.à b àThere€was€nothing€to€prevent€workers€in€the€free-trade€zone€from€joiningÐ By Ða€labour€movement€or€taking€part€in€labour€activities.€€However,€because€ofÐ < Ðcertain€difficulties€that€he€had€already€explained,€meetings€and€otherÐ Èÿ Ðgatherings€inside€the€zone€were€not€permitted.Ð ‹Â ÐÌ63.à b àA€Cabinet€paper€of€10€July€1995€provided€for€the€incorporation€in€theÐ H ÐPenal€Code€of€more€stringent€provisions€governing€trafficking€in€persons,Ð Ô  Ðsexual€exploitation€of€children,€cruelty€to€children€and€the€use€of€childrenÐ —Î Ðin€obscene€publications€and€audio„visual€presentations.€Ð Z‘ ÐÌ64.à b àSome€time€previously,€the€Government€had€appointed€a€Committee€attachedÐ à Ðto€the€State€Ministry€of€Muslim€Religious€Affairs€to€investigate€a€number€ofÐ £Ú Ðmatters€of€concern€to€the€Muslim€community€in€Sri€Lanka.€€The€Committee€had€€€Ð f Ðconsidered€proposals€to€raise€the€age€of€marriage€for€Muslim€girls€and€boys€toÐ )`  Ð18€years.€€The€process€had€been€intended€to€result€in€a€common€Civil€Code€forÐ ì#! Ðall€communities€governing€marriage,€inheritance€and€other€family€matters.€€TheÐ ¯æ" ÐMuslim€community€had€protested€against€the€project€and€asked€the€Government€toÐ r©# Ðrefrain€from€interfering€in€its€personal€laws.€€The€Government€had€since€takenÐ 5 l$ Ðthe€position€that€no€amendment€should€be€made€to€the€Muslim€personal€lawsÐ ø /% Ðuntil€the€Muslim€community€itself€consented€thereto.€€Although€Muslim€girlsÐ »!ò& Ðwere€allowed€to€marry€at€the€age€of€12,€surveys€conducted€by€Islamic€researchÐ ~"µ' Ðinstitutions€had€revealed€that€most€Muslim€girls€married€at€the€age€of€18€orÐ A#x( Ðabove.Ð $;) ÐÌ65.à b àThe€prevailing€legislation€on€child€labour€in€Sri€Lanka€was€in€conformityÐ Š%Á + Ðwith€the€relevant€articles€of€the€Covenant.€€Minimum€ages€were€stipulated€forÐ M&„!, Ðdifferent€types€of€employment.€€The€Employment€of€Women,€Young€Persons€andÐ 'G"- ÐChildren€Act€of€1956€prohibited€the€employment€of€children€before€the€end€ofÐ Ó' #. Ðthe€school€day,€for€more€than€two€hours€on€Sundays€and€in€any€occupation€thatÐ –(Í#/ Ðmight€be€injurious€to€their€life,€health€or€education.€€The€regulationsÐ Y)$0 Ðpermitted€the€employment€of€children€by€parents€or€guardians€in€lightÐ *S%1 Ðagricultural€or€horticultural€work€or€in€employment€supervised€by€publicÐ ß*&2 Ðauthorities€and€imparting€technical€training€for€a€trade€or€occupation.€€InÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðspite€of€those€regulations,€the€labour€force€survey€for€the€first€quarter€ofÐ e,œ'4 Ð1990€had€shown€82,000€children€in€the€10€to€14-year-old€age€group€to€beÐ (-_(5 Ðemployed€„€46,000€of€them€male€and€36,000€female.€€About€70€per€cent€of€maleÐ É Ðchildren€and€about€42€per€cent€of€female€children€were€unpaid€family€workers.€Ð ŒÃ ÐA€significant€proportion€of€those€employed€outside€the€home€were€thought€to€beÐ O† Ðemployed€as€domestic€servants.€€Enforcement€of€the€law€was€difficult,Ð I Ðespecially€in€the€case€of€families€living€in€extreme€poverty.€€The€GovernmentÐ Õ  Ðhad€launched€a€public€awareness€programme€to€sensitize€people€to€the€humanÐ ˜Ï Ðcost€of€child€labour.€€Ð [ ’ ÐÌ66.à b àThe€employment€of€children€in€the€fishing€industry€was€no€longer€aÐ á  Ðproblem,€since€the€authorities€had€taken€effective€action€against€offenders.Ð ¤ Û  ÐÌ67.à b àThe€Government€and€the€general€public€were€greatly€concerned€by€theÐ * a  Ðincreasing€incidence€of€child€prostitution.€€One€of€the€main€causes€was€theÐ í $  Ðrapid€growth€of€tourism.€€The€victims€were€mainly€male€children.€€TheÐ °ç  ÐDepartment€of€Probation€and€Child€Care,€acting€in€collaboration€with€theÐ sª  ÐMinistry€of€Education€and€the€Tourist€Board,€had€implemented€publicÐ 6m  Ðinformation€programmes€for€parents€and€children€to€combat€prostitution.€€NGOsÐ ù0  Ðhad€also€been€active€in€controlling€child€prostitution.€€The€Penal€Code€andÐ ¼ó  Ðthe€Children€and€Young€Persons€Ordinance€referred€only€to€prostitution€ofÐ ¶  Ðfemale€children.€€A€man€who€had€sexual€intercourse€with€a€girl€under€12€yearsÐ By Ðof€age€would€be€convicted€of€rape€and€sentenced€to€up€to€20€years'Ð < Ðimprisonment.€€Sexual€intercourse€with€a€girl€aged€between€12€and€14€was€aÐ Èÿ Ðcriminal€offence€carrying€a€prison€sentence€of€up€to€12€years.€€The€Penal€CodeÐ ‹Â Ðalso€punished€procurement€of€a€female€under€21€years,€with€or€without€herÐ N… Ðconsent,€for€the€purpose€of€prostitution.€€The€Technical€Committee€appointedÐ H Ðby€the€Government€to€propose€amendments€to€the€legislation€on€child€abuse€hadÐ Ô  Ðsubmitted€recommendations€designed€to€remedy€existing€shortcomings€byÐ —Î Ðexpanding€the€relevant€section€of€the€Penal€Code.€€It€expressly€recommendedÐ Z‘ Ðthat€child€victims€of€sexual€exploitation€should€be€treated€as€protectedÐ T Ðpersons€and€should€not€be€placed€with€offenders.€€The€Government€had€acceptedÐ à Ðthe€main€recommendations,€and€appropriate€legislation€was€being€drafted.€€AÐ £Ú ÐChildren's€Act€consolidating€all€laws€pertaining€to€children€was€also€beingÐ f Ðprepared.€€Ð )`  ÐÌ68.à b àApproximately€600,000€displaced€persons,€including€some€400,000€children,Ð ¯æ" Ðhad€been€registered€with€the€Ministry€of€Rehabilitation,€Reconstruction€andÐ r©# ÐSocial€Welfare.€€They€were€housed€in€welfare€centres€in€various€parts€of€theÐ 5 l$ Ðcountry.€€Some€of€the€children€were€orphans€or€separated€from€their€parentsÐ ø /% Ðand€many€had€been€victims€or€witnesses€of€brutal€acts€of€violence.€€AÐ »!ò& Ðsignificant€proportion€of€displaced€families€would€be€unable€to€return€toÐ ~"µ' Ðtheir€homes.€€The€Government€was€working€in€close€collaboration€withÐ A#x( Ðinternational€NGOs€and€agencies€such€as€the€International€Committee€of€theÐ $;) ÐRedCross€and€the€Office€of€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€RefugeesÐ Ç$þ* Ðto€improve€conditions€for€the€displaced€persons,€ensuring€a€regular€supply€ofÐ Š%Á + Ðfoodstuffs€and€pharmaceuticals,€providing€facilities€for€infants,€pre„schoolÐ M&„!, Ðchildren€and€children€traumatized€by€violence,€and€seeking€to€restoreÐ 'G"- Ðseparated€children€to€their€families.€€€Ð Ó' #. ÐÌ69.à b àòòMr.€PERERAóó€(Sri€Lanka),€referring€to€article€15,€paragraphs2€and€3€ofÐ Y)$0 Ðthe€Constitution,€which€placed€restrictions€on€the€rights€of€freedom€of€speechÐ *S%1 Ðand€expression€and€freedom€of€peaceful€assembly,€in€the€interests€of€racialÐ ß*&2 Ðand€religious€harmony,€explained€that€those€provisions€reflected€Sri€Lanka'sÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðmulti„ethnic,€multiracial€and€multi„religious€society.€€There€could€beÐ e,œ'4 Ðsituations€in€which€the€exercise€of€those€rights€by€a€particular€group€couldÐ (-_(5 Ðimpinge€on€the€rights€of€others,€leading€to€conflict.€€As€long€ago€as€1915Ð É Ðsuch€a€situation€had€arisen€when€a€Buddhist€procession€had€passed€close€to€aÐ ŒÃ ÐMuslim€mosque.Ð O† ÐÌ70.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€invited€members€of€the€Committee€to€make€their€concludingÐ Õ  Ðobservations.Ð ˜Ï ÐÌ71.à b àòòMr.€MAVROMMATISóó€noted€that€Sri€Lanka€was€seeking€to€deal€with€anÐ  U Ðemergency€while€at€the€same€time€offering€an€olive€branch.€€It€should€ensureÐ á  Ðthat€its€actions€on€both€fronts€were€in€conformity€with€the€Covenant€and€itsÐ ¤ Û  Ðother€international€obligations.€€Information€from€all€sources€indicated€that,Ð g ž  Ðnotwithstanding€the€Government's€efforts€to€improve€the€situation,€humanÐ * a  Ðrights€abuses,€particularly€extrajudicial€executions,€disappearances€andÐ í $  Ðtorture,€were€assuming€alarming€proportions.€€There€should€be€betterÐ °ç  Ðcoordination€of€action€to€protect€human€rights€instead€of€the€existingÐ sª  Ðproliferation€of€mechanisms.€€The€independence€of€the€machinery€establishedÐ 6m  Ðshould€be€acknowledged€by€all€and€immediate€effect€should€be€given€to€itsÐ ù0  Ðrecommendations.€€Culprits€should€be€punished€and€all€immunity€laws€abolished.Ð ¼ó  ÐÌ72.à b àThe€country€should€reduce€the€number€of€instances€in€which€the€deathÐ By Ðpenalty€was€imposed.€€Those€instances€should€certainly€not€be€expanded,€evenÐ < Ðin€an€emergency.Ð Èÿ ÐÌ73.à b àHe€trusted€that€the€next€periodic€report€would€cover€matters€only€partlyÐ N… Ðanswered€or€not€addressed€at€all€in€the€current€report€and€would€be€submittedÐ H Ðon€time.Ð Ô  ÐÌ74.à b àòòMr.€LALLAHóó€said€that€there€had€clearly€been€an€improvement€in€the€humanÐ Z‘ Ðrights€situation€in€Sri€Lanka€since€the€previous€report.€€He€hoped€that€theÐ T Ðpeace€process€would€prove€fruitful.Ð à ÐÌ75.à b àHowever,€when€the€army€took€over€a€large€proportion€of€the€work€of€theÐ f Ðpolice,€there€was€an€increasing€need€for€training€and€disciplining€toÐ )`  Ðforestall€unacceptable€behaviour.Ð ì#! ÐÌ76.à b àThe€independence€of€the€judiciary€was€best€secured€by€the€creation€of€aÐ r©# Ðspecial€tribunal€to€monitor€the€conduct€of€judges.€€It€was€highly€undesirableÐ 5 l$ Ðfor€Parliament€itself,€which€was€inevitably€politically€motivated,€toÐ ø /% Ðpronounce€on€the€conduct€of€an€independent€mechanism€of€the€State.Ð »!ò& ÐÌ77.à b àThere€should€also€be€clear€laws€to€give€effect€to€articles€7€and€10,Ð A#x( Ðparagraph1,€on€humane€treatment€in€prisons€and€other€places€of€detention,€andÐ $;) Ðthere€should€be€independent€machinery€to€monitor€their€implementation.Ð Ç$þ* ÐÌ78.à b àThere€had€been€many€improvements€in€regard€to€freedom€of€the€press,€butÐ M&„!, Ðhe€doubted€whether€parliamentary€adjudication€on€whether€a€person€hadÐ 'G"- Ðcommitted€an€offence€against€Parliament€was€the€right€solution.€€Such€mattersÐ Ó' #. Ðwere€best€left€to€the€judiciary.Ð –(Í#/ ÐÌ79.à b àòòMr.€PRADO€VALLEJOóó€said€that€the€proposed€National€Human€Rights€CommissionÐ *S%1 Ðwould€not,€in€his€view,€have€sufficient€powers€and€machinery€to€implement€itsÐ ß*&2 Ðdecisions.Ð ¢+Ù&3 Ðâ âÐ e,œ'4 Ð80.à b àThe€Emergency€Regulations€had€been€used€to€detain€people€for€up€toÐ É Ðâ âfiveyears€without€a€court€order.€€There€was€apparently€no€limit€on€the€periodÐ ŒÃ Ðof€time€for€which€a€person€could€be€held.Ð O† ÐÌ81.à b àAccording€to€paragraph€23€of€the€report,€there€were€restrictions€on€theÐ Õ  Ðright€to€practise€a€religion€and€the€right€to€choose€one's€residence.€€Ð ˜Ï ÐÌ82.à b àThe€police€had€been€guilty€of€excesses€and€arbitrary€acts,€which€hadÐ  U Ðapparently€not€been€properly€investigated.Ð á  ÐÌ83.à b àUnder€the€Emergency€Regulations,€the€Minister€of€Defence€had€specialÐ g ž  Ðpowers€that€could€determine€whether€a€person€should€remain€in€custody€or€beÐ * a  Ðreleased.€€Such€powers€were€obviously€of€an€arbitrary€nature€and€liable€toÐ í $  Ðlead€to€abuses.Ð °ç  ÐÌ84.à b àThe€right€to€freedom€of€expression€was€unfortunately€limited€by€the€rightÐ 6m  Ðof€parliamentary€privilege.€€That€restriction€was€not€compatible€withÐ ù0  Ðarticle19€of€the€Covenant.Ð ¼ó  ÐÌ85.à b àòòMr.€KLEINóó€said€that€disappointment€with€the€printed€report€had€beenÐ By Ðsomewhat€compensated€by€the€oral€replies€to€the€Committee's€questions.€€It€nowÐ < Ðseemed€clear€that,€under€the€new€Government,€the€human€rights€situation€hadÐ Èÿ Ðtaken€a€turn€for€the€better:€€he€commended€the€progress€made€in€teaching€aboutÐ ‹Â Ðhuman€rights,€the€endeavours€made€to€bring€the€rights€guaranteed€under€theÐ N… ÐConstitution€into€closer€harmony€with€the€obligations€assumed€under€theÐ H ÐCovenant,€and€the€remarks€by€the€delegation€on€the€subject€ofÐ Ô  Ðself-determination.Ð —Î ÐÌ86.à b àAs€to€the€future,€he€recommended€concentration€on€the€establishment€of€aÐ T Ðtruly€effective€human€rights€implementation€mechanism,€accompanied€by€lessÐ à Ðdecentralization€and€fragmentation€of€responsibilities€in€that€domain.€€It€wasÐ £Ú Ðgreatly€to€be€hoped€that€the€debilitating€internal€strife€in€SriLanka€wouldÐ f Ðsoon€be€brought€to€an€end.Ð )`  ÐÌ87.à b àòòMrs.€CHANETóó€praised€the€oral€contribution€by€the€Sri€Lankan€delegation,Ð ¯æ" Ðwhich€had€enriched€the€dialogue,€demonstrated€the€political€will€to€achieveÐ r©# Ðpeace€and€progress€and€highlighted€a€number€of€positive€developments.€€IfÐ 5 l$ Ðquestions€remained€in€the€minds€of€Committee€members,€they€were€-€at€least€inÐ ø /% Ðher€own€case€-€related€to€the€methodology€adopted€in€protecting€the€rightsÐ »!ò& Ðguaranteed€by€the€Covenant.€€The€fragmented€and€uncoordinated€approachÐ ~"µ' Ðreflected€in€the€proliferation€of€different€bodies€had€the€disquieting€effect,Ð A#x( Ðòòinteraliaóó,€of€relieving€the€State€of€its€responsibilities€in€the€matter€andÐ $;) Ðcreating€what€she€found€to€be€a€disturbing€institutional€imbalance,€which€wasÐ Ç$þ* Ðworsened€by€the€virtual€domination€that€Parliament€enjoyed€over€the€judiciary.Ð Š%Á + ÐÌ88.à b àMany€reforms,€announced€or€under€way,€in€numerous€domains€had€beenÐ 'G"- Ðdescribed.€€Satisfaction€in€that€connection€did€not,€however,€alleviateÐ Ó' #. Ðconcern€at€the€persistence€of€disappearances,€summary€executions€andÐ –(Í#/ Ðextrajudicial€killings,€as€well€as€torture;€there€were€also€grounds€forÐ Y)$0 Ðpreoccupation€with€the€existing€conditions€of€detention€and€the€continuingÐ *S%1 Ðpractice€of€corporal€punishment,€notably€of€children€in€detention.€€In€thatÐ ß*&2 Ðconnection,€she€commended€to€the€delegation's€attention€the€Committee'sÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðâ âgeneral€comment€7€on€article€7€of€the€Covenant.€€She€very€much€hoped€thatÐ e,œ'4 Ðsignificant€improvements€in€those€areas€would€be€demonstrated€in€the€fourthÐ É Ðperiodic€report.€€Ð ŒÃ Ðâ âÌ89.à b àòòMr.€BHAGWATIóó€commended€the€lucid€oral€presentation€made€by€the€Sri€LankanÐ I Ðdelegation,€expressed€his€confidence€that€the€dialogue€would€help€the€countryÐ Õ  Ðin€improving€the€observance€of€human€rights,€notwithstanding€all€the€presentÐ ˜Ï Ðimpediments,€and€praised€PresidentBandanaraike€Kumaratunga's€bold€peaceÐ [ ’ Ðinitiative,€to€which€the€LTTE€had€regrettably€failed€to€respond.€€RenewedÐ  U Ðrecourse€by€the€authorities€to€the€military€option€was€understandable,€but€theÐ á  Ðexercise€of€that€option€must€always€remain€within€the€parameters€of€humanÐ ¤ Û  Ðrights.Ð g ž  ÐÌ90.à b àCiting€the€provisions€of€article€107,€paragraph3,€of€the€Constitution€ofÐ í $  ÐSri€Lanka€and€the€Standing€Orders€relating€to€the€parliamentary€investigationÐ °ç  Ðand€determination€of€alleged€misbehaviour€or€incapacity€of€judges,€he€saidÐ sª  Ðthat€the€effect€of€such€a€measure€was€to€undermine€the€independence€of€theÐ 6m  Ðjudiciary;€he€commended€to€the€Sri€Lankan€Government€as€a€far€preferableÐ ù0  Ðalternative€the€institution€of€an€independent€tribunal,€such€as€that€adoptedÐ ¼ó  Ðin€India.€€Ð ¶  ÐÌ91.à b àThe€intention€to€retain€in€the€new€Constitution€the€provision€thatÐ < Ðexisting€legislation€should€not€have€to€meet€the€challenge€of€fundamentalÐ Èÿ Ðrights€troubled€him.€€To€his€mind,€all€legislation€without€exception€should€beÐ ‹Â Ðin€compliance€with€human€rights.€€He€was€also€disturbed€by€the€idea€ofÐ N… Ðestablishing€a€time-limit€of€two€years€in€which€to€challenge€the€validity€ofÐ H Ðnew€laws:€€it€should€be€possible€to€challenge€any€laws€at€any€time.€€Ð Ô  ÐÌ92.à b àFurther,€he€feared€that€the€power€accorded€to€the€special€presidentialÐ Z‘ Ðcommissions€of€inquiry€to€make€findings€as€to€guilt€could€undermine€theÐ T Ðprinciple€of€fair€trial€and€have€the€effect€of€imposing€civic€disabilities€onÐ à Ðthe€person€or€persons€concerned€and€violating€articles€14,€paragraph1,€and€25Ð £Ú Ðof€the€Covenant.Ð f ÐÌ93.à b àFinally,€he€was€anxious€about€the€proposed€right€of€parliamentaryÐ ì#! Ðprivilege€in€relation€to€freedom€of€expression,€a€principle€that€was€atÐ ¯æ" Ðvariance€with€article€19€of€the€Covenant.€€In€India,€the€Supreme€Court€hadÐ r©# Ðruled€that€the€freedom€of€expression€of€a€journalist€could€not€be€restrictedÐ 5 l$ Ðby€the€exercise€of€that€privilege.Ð ø /% ÐÌ94.à b àòòMr.€BððNóó€observed€that€the€dialogue€had€been€fruitful€and€mutuallyÐ ~"µ' Ðinformative.€€The€new€Government's€deep€commitment€to€bringing€the€recentÐ A#x( Ðturbulent€period€to€a€close€was€greatly€to€be€welcomed,€and€its€declaredÐ $;) Ðpriorities€in€that€connection€were€commendable.€€Also€encouraging€was€itsÐ Ç$þ* Ðdetermination€to€apply€remedies€for€past€human€rights€violations,€notably€Ð  Š%Á + Ðthrough€the€review€of€detention€under€the€Emergency€Regulations,€theÐ É Ðinvestigation€of€disappearances€and€extrajudicial€killings,€the€prosecutionÐ ŒÃ Ðofperpetrators€and€the€award€of€compensation€to€victims.€€Ð O† ÐÌ95.à b àHe€also€welcomed€the€creation€of€a€series€of€human€rights€monitoringÐ Õ  Ðinstitutions,€but€like€earlier€speakers€cautioned€against€the€possiblyÐ ˜Ï Ðcounterproductive€effect€of€excessive€multiplication€and€parallelism.€€Ð [ ’ ÐÌ96.à b àThe€internal€armed€conflict€in€Sri€Lanka€remained€the€principal€cause€forÐ á  Ðconcern€and€the€major€source€of€harm€to€human€rights,€inflicting€graveÐ ¤ Û  Ðsuffering€on€the€people€irrespective€of€where€responsibility€for€theÐ g ž  Ðresumption€of€hostilities€lay.€€He€did€not€deny€the€right€of€a€Government€toÐ * a  Ðbring€order€to€a€country,€if€necessary€by€force.€€And€Governments€indeed€hadÐ í $  Ðan€obligation€to€prevent€human€rights€violations€as€a€result€of€publicÐ °ç  Ðdisorder.€€But€they€must€always€act€in€conformity€with€international€law€andÐ sª  Ðtheir€obligations€under€international€treaties:€€he€hoped€that€the€Sri€LankanÐ 6m  Ðauthorities€would€bear€those€principles€in€mind€as€they€continued€to€addressÐ ù0  Ðthe€situation€in€the€Northern€and€Eastern€Provinces.Ð ¼ó  ÐÌ97.à b àòòMr.€FRANCISóó€joined€in€expressing€appreciation€of€the€dialogue€and,€inÐ By Ðparticular,€endorsed€Mr.€Lallah's€remarks.€€He€added€that€the€Sri€LankanÐ < Ðauthorities€should€take€account€not€only€of€the€Committee's€comments€andÐ Èÿ Ðrecommendations€but€also€of€the€submissions€by€NGOs€based€in€Sri€Lanka€andÐ ‹Â Ðother€credible€statements€from€outside€sources.€€Ð N… ÐÌ98.à b àOn€the€matter€of€parliamentary€privilege€and€the€freedom€of€expression,Ð Ô  Ðhe€concurred€with€other€speakers€who€had€voiced€considerable€concern€at€theÐ —Î Ðrisks€inherent€in€according€primacy€to€the€former.€€Some€means€other€thanÐ Z‘ Ðtransforming€it€into€judge€and€jury€must€be€found€in€order€to€buttressÐ T ÐParliament's€authority.€€Ð à ÐÌ99.à b àòòMs.€EVATTóó€said€that€she,€too,€had€not€found€the€written€report€to€beÐ f Ðaltogether€satisfactory,€but€had€been€impressed€by€the€serious€contribution€ofÐ )`  Ðthe€SriLankan€delegation€to€the€dialogue.€€It€was€clear€that€the€GovernmentÐ ì#! Ðwas€committed€to€repairing€some€of€the€damage€of€the€past,€and€much€hadÐ ¯æ" Ðalready€been€achieved,€although€much€remained€to€be€done.Ð r©# ÐÌ100.à b àIt€was€to€be€hoped€that€the€reform€process€under€way€would€be€conductedÐ ø /% Ðwith€due€regard€for€the€Covenant€and€for€the€rights€not€currently€provided€forÐ »!ò& Ðin€the€Constitution.€€Special€care€should€be€taken€to€ensure€that€theÐ ~"µ' Ðlimitations€placed€on€rights€did€not€exceed€those€permitted€by€the€Covenant.Ð A#x( ÐÌ101.à b àThe€possibility€of€challenging€both€existing€and€future€laws€as€well€asÐ Ç$þ* Ðadministrative€acts€on€the€grounds€of€incompatibility€with€the€ConstitutionÐ Š%Á + Ðwas€another€important€matter.€€In€that€connection,€ratification€of€the€firstÐ M&„!, ÐOptional€Protocol€might€be€of€considerable€service.Ð 'G"- ÐÌ102.à b àGreater€efforts€should€be€made€to€ensure€that€every€sector€of€theÐ –(Í#/ Ðpopulation€enjoyed€the€opportunity€of€participating€fully€in€public€life€andÐ Y)$0 Ðthe€conduct€of€public€affairs.€€The€integration€of€communities€requiredÐ *S%1 Ðfurther€encouragement.Ð ß*&2 ÐÌ103.à b àPositive€developments€had€occurred€in€regard€to€the€treatment€of€women,Ð e,œ'4 Ðbut€personal€laws€„€especially€the€marriage€laws€of€the€Muslim€community€„Ð (-_(5 Ðcalled€for€further€attention.€€It€was€unacceptable€in€the€modern€age€to€haveÐ É Ðlaws€permitting€the€marriage€of€12„year„olds.€€The€new€laws€on€rape€andÐ ŒÃ Ðviolence€should€be€supported€by€measures€ensuring€that€law€enforcementÐ O† Ðauthorities€adopted€supportive€attitudes€towards€women€as€victims€andÐ I Ðwitnesses:€€the€trauma€that€followed€violence€was€often€hard€to€bear.€Ð Õ  ÐOutstanding€inequalities€that€should€be€addressed€related€to€citizenshipÐ ˜Ï Ðmatters€and€residence€visa€requirements€for€the€husbands€of€SriLankan€women.Ð [ ’ ÐÌ104.à b àThe€resumption€of€violent€conflict€in€SriLanka€was€to€be€deplored.€€EachÐ á  Ðand€every€violation€of€human€rights€as€a€consequence€of€the€renewedÐ ¤ Û  Ðhostilities€must€be€independently€investigated;€and€an€independent€agency€mustÐ g ž  Ðbe€responsible€for€bringing€perpetrators€to€justice.Ð * a  ÐÌ105.à b àòòMr.€KRETZMERóó,€commending€the€usefulness€of€the€dialogue,€welcomed€theÐ °ç  Ðcommitment€of€the€Government€fully€to€investigate€all€disappearances€and€urgedÐ sª  Ðthat€the€mandate€of€the€commission€of€inquiry€should€be€extended€to€coverÐ 6m  Ðcases€dating€back€to€1984,€rather€than€to€1988.€€There€must€be€an€independentÐ ù0  Ðinvestigation€of€all€allegations€of€maltreatment€or€torture€at€the€hands€ofÐ ¼ó  Ðthe€police;€in€that€connection,€it€was€important€that€SriLankan€legislationÐ ¶  Ðshould€be€fully€consistent€with€the€definitions€contained€in€the€ConventionÐ By Ðagainst€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Ð < Ðand€he€invited€the€Government€to€consider€making€declarations€underÐ Èÿ Ðarticles21€and22€of€that€instrument.Ð ‹Â ÐÌ106.à b àConcerning€Government€policies€with€regard€to€women,€he€referred€to€theÐ H Ðfree-trade€zones€and€his€understanding€that€people€there€were€entitled€to€joinÐ Ô  Ðgeneral€trade€unions€but€not€to€engage€in€locally€organized€labour€activity;Ð —Î Ðgiven€that€most€labour€in€those€zones€was€female,€he€feared€that€such€aÐ Z‘ Ðrestriction€might€constitute€discrimination€against€women€in€the€labourÐ T Ðmarket;€mechanisms€should€be€found€to€permit€the€effective€organization€ofÐ à Ðlabour€within€those€zones.Ð £Ú ÐÌ107.à b àConcerning€article19,€he€recalled€his€earlier€question€with€regard€toÐ )`  ÐGovernment€pressure€on€television€and€radio,€and€urged€that€ways€and€meansÐ ì#! Ðshould€be€found€to€prevent€any€interference€with€or€manipulation€ofÐ ¯æ" ÐState-controlled€media.Ð r©# ÐÌ108.à b àòòMr.€EL€SHAFEIóó€commended€the€constructive€exchange€with€the€SriLankanÐ ø /% Ðdelegation.€€Difficult€conditions€persisted€in€SriLanka,€but€the€presentÐ »!ò& ÐGovernment's€policy€of€peace,€reconciliation,€promotion€of€respect€for€humanÐ ~"µ' Ðrights€and€introduction€of€legal€and€institutional€reforms€was€praiseworthy.€Ð A#x( ÐObviously,€the€breach€of€the€cease„fire€agreement€by€the€LTTE€and€theÐ $;) Ðresumption€of€hostilities€complicated€the€Government's€task.€€The€stepsÐ Ç$þ* Ðalready€taken€to€strengthen€the€monitoring€of€human€rights€should€be€pursued,Ð Š%Á + Ðattention€being€paid€to€the€behaviour€of€all€the€parties€to€the€ongoingÐ M&„!, Ðconflict.Ð 'G"- ÐÌ109.à b àHe€noted€with€some€concern€the€very€broad€interpretation€of€"terrorism"Ð –(Í#/ Ðfor€the€purposes€of€the€Prevention€of€Terrorism€Act,€and€the€absence€from€that€Ð  Y)$0 Ðinstrument€of€provisions€for€recourse€to€an€independent€and€impartialÐ É Ðtribunal.€€The€Covenant€should€be€publicized€more€widely,€notably€among€lawÐ ŒÃ Ðenforcement€officers€and€members€of€the€legal€profession.Ð O† ÐÌ110.à b àòòMrs.€MEDINA€QUIROGAóó€noted€with€regret€that€the€dialogue€with€theÐ Õ  ÐSriLankan€delegation€had€taken€place€against€the€background€of€resumedÐ ˜Ï Ðinternal€conflict€that€inhibited€full€compliance€by€SriLanka€with€itsÐ [ ’ Ðobligations€under€the€Covenant;€many€positive€developments€had,€however,€beenÐ  U Ðdescribed€by€the€delegation.€€She€had€been€particularly€pleased€by€theÐ á  Ðreference€to€teaching€in€human€rights,€to€concern€with€discrimination€againstÐ ¤ Û  Ðwomen€and€to€the€planned€modification€of€the€provisions€relating€to€the€deathÐ g ž  Ðpenalty€in€the€Emergency€Regulations.Ð * a  ÐÌ111.à b àShe€urged€Sri€Lanka€to€ratify€the€Optional€Protocol€and€voiced€regretÐ °ç  Ðthat€summary€executions€were€not€the€subject€of€a€commission€of€inquiry.€€SheÐ sª  Ðalso€echoed€Mr.Kretzmer's€call€for€the€investigation€of€disappearances€priorÐ 6m  Ðto€1988€and€requested€the€SriLankan€authorities€to€reconsider€amendingÐ ù0  Ðarticle16€of€the€Constitution,€especially€since€it€had€been€described€as€aÐ ¼ó  Ð"transitional"€provision.€€In€addition,€she€asked€why,€if€article13,Ð ¶  Ðparagraph5,€did€not€infringe€the€presumption€of€innocence,€it€figured€in€theÐ By ÐConstitution.€€She€echoed€the€concern€of€other€members€of€the€Committee€withÐ < Ðregard€to€article19€of€the€Constitution,€the€removal€of€judges€andÐ Èÿ Ðparliamentary€privilege€in€respect€of€the€freedom€of€expression,€and€calledÐ ‹Â Ðfor€a€review€of€the€habeascorpus€provisions€in€SriLankan€law.Ð N… ÐÌ112.à b àòòMr.€ANDOóó€expressed€appreciation€of€the€Sri€Lankan€delegation's€responseÐ Ô  Ðto€the€Committee's€questions,€adding€that€he€shared€the€concerns€expressed€byÐ —Î Ðother€speakers,€notably€in€regard€to€the€issue€of€parliamentary€prerogativeÐ Z‘ Ðand€judicial€independence.Ð T ÐÌ113.à b àIt€had€emerged€during€the€dialogue€that€torture€and€extrajudicialÐ £Ú Ðkillings€persisted,€despite€the€Government's€endeavours.€€In€his€view,€greaterÐ f Ðefforts€should€be€made€to€eliminate€the€root€causes€of€such€actions.Ð )`  ÐÌ114.à b àAccording€to€the€delegation,€the€rights€of€freedom€of€movement,Ð ¯æ" Ðexpression,€association€and€assembly,€and€the€protection€of€privacy€at€homeÐ r©# Ðand€in€family€life,€were€in€general€adequately€safeguarded.€€He€hoped€thatÐ 5 l$ Ðsuch€was€indeed€the€case,€and€that€any€shortcomings€would€be€remedied.Ð ø /% ÐÌ115.à b àMuch€had€been€said€about€different€aspects€of€the€protection€of€children.€Ð ~"µ' ÐNotwithstanding€the€Government's€efforts€in€that€connection,€a€comprehensiveÐ A#x( Ðprogramme€which€addressed€all€the€issues€involved€seemed€to€be€called€for.Ð $;) ÐÌ116.à b àAccording€to€the€delegation,€article€16,€paragraph1,of€theÐ Š%Á + ÐConstitution„€which€he€had€believed€to€be€wide„reaching€„€was€only€designedÐ M&„!, Ðfor€temporary€application.€€In€that€case,€he€would€ask€what€"temporary"Ð 'G"- Ðsignified,€and€urged€that€steps€should€be€taken€to€prevent€any€unintendedÐ Ó' #. Ðeffects.Ð –(Í#/ ÐÌ117.à b àObviously,€human€rights€could€not€be€dissociated€from€economic€and€socialÐ *S%1 Ðconditions.€€He€believed€that,€with€external€help€if€necessary,€the€SriLankanÐ ß*&2 ÐGovernment€would€indeed€strive€to€create€conditions€to€ensure€that€thoseÐ ¢+Ù&3 Ðrights€were€better€protected.Ð e,œ'4 ÐÐ (-_(5 Ð118.à b àThe€Tamil€insurrection€was€a€most€disturbing€factor.€€However,€theÐ É ÐGovernment€was€undoubtedly€doing€its€best€to€bring€that€unhappy€state€ofÐ ŒÃ Ðaffairs€to€an€end,€and€it€should€be€wished€every€success€in€such€a€difficultÐ O† Ðundertaking.Ð I ÐÌ119.à b àòòMr.€GOONETILLEKEóó€(Sri€Lanka)€first€stated,€on€a€point€of€detail,€thatÐ ˜Ï Ðalthough€the€provision€for€corporal€punishment€remained€on€the€statute€books,Ð [ ’ Ðit€had€not€been€implemented€for€almost€a€decade,€and€could€thus€be€consideredÐ  U Ðas€suspended€defacto.Ð á  ÐÌ120.à b àHis€delegation€had€appreciated€the€opportunity€to€present€its€report;€theÐ g ž  Ðvaluable€and€varied€observations€by€Committee€members€had€been€duly€noted€andÐ * a  Ðwould€be€taken€into€account€during€the€preparation€of€the€next€periodicÐ í $  Ðreport.Ð °ç  ÐÌ121.à b àThe€views€expressed,€notably€with€regard€to€the€reform€of€theÐ 6m  ÐConstitution,€would€be€accorded€respectful€attention€by€those€responsible€forÐ ù0  Ðdrafting€new€legislation.€€He€was€happy€to€announce€that€the€establishment€ofÐ ¼ó  Ða€Human€Rights€Commission,€which€had€been€mentioned€on€various€occasionsÐ ¶  Ðduring€the€discussion,€had€been€formalized€by€the€Government€on€21July;€heÐ By Ðhad€handed€a€copy€of€the€relevant€bill€to€the€Chairman€of€the€Committee;€theÐ < Ðtext€would€be€made€available€to€members€upon€request.Ð Èÿ ÐÌ122.à b àHe€had€been€particularly€gratified€by€the€favourable€remarks€concerningÐ N… Ðthe€Government's€peace€initiatives€and€comforted€by€recognition€of€theÐ H Ðintransigence€of€the€LTTE€in€preferring€violence€and€confrontation€toÐ Ô  Ðdemocracy€and€peace.€€The€Committee's€encouragement€would€help€the€PresidentÐ —Î Ðand€Government€in€pursuing€their€objective,€which€was€a€negotiated€solution€toÐ Z‘ Ðproblems€involving€the€Northern€and€Eastern€Provinces.Ð T ÐÌ123.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€thanked€the€delegation€of€Sri€Lanka€for€its€cooperation€andÐ £Ú Ðwished€those€of€its€members€who€were€returning€to€the€island€a€safe€journeyÐ f Ðhome.Ð )`  ÐÌÌà@'“àòòThe€meeting€rose€at€1€p.m.óóˆÐ r©# Ð