The speaker of Sri Lanka’s parliament claimed that the “our country has been elevated before the world as a decent and respected nation”, following an “A” status accreditation for the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) earlier this month.
"I believe that our country has been elevated before the world as a decent and respected nation," said Karu Jayasuriya, who also serves as chairman of Sri Lanka’s Constitutional Council.
"Especially it is a confirmation in the country and internationally that Sri Lankans are citizens of a free society with justice and equality,” he added. “This is a great step we took forward as a nation."
The “A” rating comes as various NGOs continued to report on the continued use of torture and sexual violence by Sri Lankan security forces. Meanwhile Tamil organisations, including families of the disappeared, continued to report intimidation, surveillance and harassment by the military.
Mr Jayasuriya went on to “extend my gratitude to the Government which provided the space for the Human Rights organizations to function without a hindrance to acquire this dignity in the human rights field, and to the Human Rights Commission for its active role in this achievement."
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