Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma has said that the Commonwealth is tackling difficult issues in Sri Lanka and offer practical assistance to strengthen national efforts in the field of human rights and the rule of law.
Mr. Sharma said the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group has empowered and encouraged the Secretary-General to engage in his good offices with Sri Lanka, which is what he has been doing. He made this comment in response to media queries on why Sri Lanka, accused of serious and persistent violations of Commonwealth value, is not on its agenda. He told the news conference that they agreed on a roadmap of Commonwealth partnership with Sri Lanka when he visited Sri Lanka last year. There are about 10 different tracks and the progress is there for all to see on their website.
He pointed out that the Commonwealth is advancing at a different pace on each track and tackling difficult issues, such as reconciliation, torture and human rights. They were working in a Commonwealth way and they offer practical assistance and a helping hand and strengthen national endeavor in the field of human rights and the rule of law. Mr. Sharma revealed that the Commonwealth started discussions this week about new areas of work and that his work, at the insistence of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, includes reconciliation; elections; strengthening of the Human Rights Commission; enquiry of various types encouraging the human rights body, which we are doing right now in Geneva with the full body; the separation of powers issue, public administration and freedom of expression.
The Commonwealth Secretary General added that he briefed the Action Group ministers of his work and he was encouraged further to continue the work.
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