In the course of a series of bilateral meetings with Ministers from different countries attending the High Level segment of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Sri Lankan delegation headed by Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, met Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, Minister for State for Africa, Asia and the United Nations of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

            The meeting took place on Wednesday March 5th, the day after an exchange of views in which Minister Samarasinghe had had to regret Lord Malloch-Brown’s mistaken approach in his address to the Human Rights Council, which had not taken into account ‘substantial improvements in the situation in Sri Lanka.’ The bilateral meeting was cordial though frank, and the Sri Lankan delegation took the opportunity to clarify a report from the British Tamil Forum that claimed Lord Malloch-Brown had indicated to their delegation that met him that he found the results of the recent election unfortunate.

            Lord Malloch-Brown clarified that he had meant nothing of the sort. What he had pointed out to the delegation was that they had only themselves to blame for the result, which they might regret, but which had been precipitated by the boycott of the election which the LTTE had enforced. He agreed that he could be quoted on this, and that he would also suggest to his staff that his position should be made clear. Lord Malloch-Brown’s use of the phrase ‘only themselves to blame’ made it clear that he was not as naïve as the BTF had tried to suggest in their release, and his categorical condemnation of terrorism helped the Sri Lankan delegation to understand that the British position in this respect remained unchanged.

            He affirmed however that Britain had some concerns about Human Rights. The delegation affirmed that this was not a problem at all, and that they welcomed expressions of concern provided they did not lend themselves to political agendas, and Lord Malloch-Brown could quote them on this. It was noted that, though the previous British High Commissioner had had good intentions, his expression of these was sometimes excessive, and that greater tactfulness would perhaps serve the cause of Human Rights better.

            Minister Samarasinghe made clear the various steps the Sri Lankan government had taken to promote democracy and pluralism despite the challenges posed by terrorism. The need to ensure restrictions of funds to the LTTE was also agreed on. Appreciation was expressed of the very helpful assistance the British government had provided in various fields, and it was hoped that, with the advent of a new High Commissioner, public relations would improve in line with the generally positive nature of cooperation between the two countries.

Prof Rajiva Wijesinha
Secretary General
Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process