Sri Lanka’s Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called on the Government to uphold the true spirit of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), warning against its misuse for political ends.
Speaking at a meeting held yesterday at the Opposition Leader’s Office with members of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, led by former MP Udaya Gammanpila, Premadasa said the ICCPR was established to promote human rights, peace, and social harmony and not to be used as a tool of political vendetta.
“The ICCPR was created to protect human rights, to ensure peace, unity, brotherhood and harmony among the people. Therefore, I request the Government to take action to protect human rights by utilising this convention,” he said.
Premadasa further criticised the domestic implementation of the convention, alleging that it has, at times, been applied unlawfully to target individuals for political reasons.
He pointed to the Rabat Plan of Action, a UN framework aimed at preventing incitement to hatred, and called for a six-part inquiry into possible violations of the ICCPR.
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