The debate on the resumption of executions seemed to...

The debate on the resumption of executions seemed to have died down somewhat after the Sri Lanka National Human Rights Commission wrote to the government pointing out that such a move would be in breach of the country's international obligations according to the treaties it has signed, and runs against human rights, chairperson and former UN Special Rapporteur Radhika Coomaraswamy told the HOC delegation on September 18. "The Human Rights Commission has taken a very firm stand against the re-introduction of executions," Coomaraswamy said. "We are glad that your delegation is here and we urge you to impress on the Interior Minister that re-introduction violates international norms and could open up Sri Lanka to human rights scrutiny."The Commission gave its full backing to HOC's international moratorium proposal and pledged to put forward the position to its government. On its second day in Colombo, the delegation also met Parliament Speaker Joseph Michael Perera, who said that there had been calls in parliament echoing a public opinion increasingly in favour of the resumption of executions in view of rising crime. However the legislature did no more than debate a Private Member's Bill, which if approved, was not in any way biding on the government. "The government might support the moratorium resolution at the UN because the current position in Sri Lanka is not to implement the death penalty, and on the basis of that the government would have to support a moratorium," he said when questioned about Sri Lanka's position on a possible moratorium resolution at the 2003 UNGA. Legal advisor at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Rohan Perera said that Sri Lanka's position on the moratorium resolution will definitely be consistent with the country's former positions in international fora including the UNCHR, where Sri Lanka has consistently abstained from the vote on the death penalty resolution. Regarding HOC's request for support to the moratorium resolution at the UNGA through a favourable vote, Mr Perera pledged that the country's delegation, of which he will form part, will work very closely with the Italy, that holds the EU's term-presidency and will keep an "open mind" on the resolution, taking into consideration also the language in which it is couched. He did not exclude the possibility of Sri Lanka's favourable vote on a moratorium resolution at the UNGA. Questioned on Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando's position regarding the death penalty, Mr Perera said his recollection was that the Minister favoured the moratorium. The minister himself was abroad on an official visit and the delegation had no opportunity to meet him, but the Director of European Affairs Pamela J. Deen was also present at the meeting.