British parliamentarians attending the 36th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva have called for action to ensure that Sri Lanka fulfils its commitments set out in the council resolution 30/1 which was co-sponsored by Sri Lanka two years ago.
Theresa Villiers, Conservative MP and former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said she was attending the council on behalf of her constituents and wanted to see resolution 30/1 implemented.
“That would mean the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act in Sri Lanka,” Ms Villiers said, adding that the resolution was “not being implemented fast enough.”
“We need a time bound implementation plan so that we see real progress to relieve the suffering of Tamils in the North and East of Sri Lanka,” she said.
“We need action now,” said Paul Scully, the Conservative MP and current chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils.
Also stating that Sri Lanka should implement resolution 30/1, “which they themselves sponsored”, Mr Scully said, “we also need to bring an end to the disappearances, the displaced people, the people that are arbitrarily arrested under the prevention of terrorism act.”
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