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A clear message on rights, says Colombo

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has said the Constitution and the Supreme Court rulings give “adequate recognition to the provisions contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”

In a ruling made on the basis of the opinion sought by President Rajapaksa, the apex court held that the citizens could derive the “benefit guaranteed by the Covenant.”

It is immediately not clear what prompted the President to seek the court’s opinion. A few months ago, the apex court in another case observed that the United Nations and other international conventions were not binding on the country unless ratified by Parliament.

The court on Friday held that the rights recognised in the Covenant were justifiable through “legal and constitutional processes prevailing in the country.”

The ruling was made by a five-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva and Justices R.A.N.G. Amaratunga, Saleem Marsoof, A.M. Somawansa, and D.J. De S. Balapatabendi.

Minister G.L. Peiris told journalists here that the court’s decision was “a clear message” to those engaged in a campaign to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka internationally.

“Currently there are attempts to pressure the European Union to stop the GSP + facilities to Sri Lanka by claiming that the country’s Constitution has not given adequate recognition to Civil and Political Rights,” Professor Peiris said.

He said the apex court determination had proved that the provided adequate recognition to the civil and political rights contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

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