The Prime Minister was addressing the Commonwealth Parliamentarians' Asian Regional Seminar for Members of Parliament on the “Role of Parliamentarians in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights”, opened in Colombo, yesterday (Feb.01).

Premier Wickremesinghe further outlined the proposed process of reconciliation and accountability, which would have different elements; a council office for accountability, a missing persons office, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), legal process and a Compassionate Council.

He pointed out that a majority of the cases are likely to be directed by the TRC to the Compassionate Council which will also look into the long term reconciliation of the people.

The three-day Seminar is being organized jointly by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Sri Lanka Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Representatives from countries such as Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Maldives and Pakistan as well as representatives from many Asian and South East Asian countries are attending the conference.

The seminar will conclude on the 03rd.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Advisor on Human Rights in Sri Lanka Sumedha Ekanayake and Directress of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Forum Meenakshi Dhas as well as several Parliamentarians were among those who were present.