13th July, 2015

Open Letter to all Political Parties - Key Pledges to be included in Manifestos

We the undersigned Sri Lankan civil society activists and organizations, wish to bring to your attention human rights issues of pivotal importance to reconciliation, unity, peace and prosperity in our country, which we strongly believe should be included in your party manifestos for the forthcoming General Election. During the campaign period leading to the January 2015 Presidential Election, the focus was governance and anti- corruption as the immediate need of the day to salvage democracy and restore the rule of law in Sri Lanka. There appeared to be a consensus that once this was done and an enabling environment thereby created, the longer term issues of peace and reconciliation, the process of transitional justice, an end to the culture of impunity in respect of all human rights violations and a political settlement of the ethnic conflict, would be addressed in earnest. We are of the firm belief that the Parliament to be elected on the 17 of August will have to address these issues as a matter of the utmost priority if we as Sri Lankans are to realize the full potential for peace and prosperity in a truly united country that is inherent in all our fellow citizens. We have languished for too long in a post- war situation, in which the roots of conflict are sustained and even allowed to be reproduced. We need to move to a post-conflict situation characterized by the absence of human rights violations and in order to do so, we strongly urge that the following, in particular, be included as firm pledges in your manifestos. 1. Commit to a political and constitutional settlement of the ethnic conflict based on meaningful power-sharing. 2. Ensure families have access to the truth, and hold accountable all those responsible for enforced and involuntary disappearances, and that the crime of disappearances be criminalized under Sri Lankan Law. 3. Repeal or reform the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), bringing it in line with Sri Lanka's international obligations, and that all long-term detainees be charged or released with immediate effect. 4. Zero tolerance on the issues of enforced and involuntary disappearance, torture, religious and gender based violence and attacks, suppression of dissent and threats on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs). 5. Bring an end to the prevailing culture of impunity, and strengthen the judiciary to uphold the law and hold accountable all those responsible for human rights violations. 6. Put in place processes and mechanisms of transitional justice in conformity with international standards, and continued, constructive engagement with

victims, affected communities, local civil society groups and the international community. 7. Ensure an enabling environment for civil society activism. 8. Implement pro-people, participatory and sustainable economic, development and environmental policies, approaches and practices. Let us NOT miss this historic opportunity for true reform and reconciliation! Sincerely, Individuals

1. Alphonse Mary - Batticaloa 2. Ameer M. Faaiz - Attorney-at-law 3. Anandi Sivasubramanium 4. Anberiya Hanifa 5. Anushaya Collure 6. Aruni Jayakody - Attorney-at-law 7. B. Gowthaman Attorney-at-law 8. Balasingham Skanthakumar 9. Bhavani Fonseka - Attorney-at-law 10. Brito Fernando 11. C. Ranitha Gnanarajah - Attorney-at-law 12. Cayathri D 13. Chandra Jayaratne 14. Chandraguptha Thenuwara - Artist/Senior Lecturer 15. Deanne Uyangoda 16. Dr. A. Selvendiran Advisor, NGO Consortium, Batticaloa 17. Dr. J. T. Xavier F.R.C.S. (Retd.) - Batticaloa 18. Dr. Jehan Perera 19. Dr. Malathi de Alwis 20. Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu 21. Dr. Sepali Kottegoda 22. Faizun Zackariya 23. Farzana Haniffa 24. Gajen Mahendra 25. Gehan Gunatilleke - Attorney-at-law 26. Godfrey Yogarajah 27. Herman Kumara 28. Hilmy Ahamed 29. Jacqueline 30. Jansila Majeed 31. Jayanta de S. Wijeratne 32. Jeanne Samuel 33. Joe William 34. K. Aingkaran 35. K.S. Ratnavale - Attorney-at-law

36. Kalani Subasinghe 37. Kumudini Samuel 38. Kusal Perera Journalist 39. Luwie Ganeshathasan Attorney-at-law 40. M.A.L. Perera 41. M.S. Nilashani 42. Mala Liyanage 43. Mangaleswary Shanker 44. Manori Kalugampitiya 45. Mario Gomez 46. Marisa de Silva 47. Menaha Kandasamy 48. Minoli de Soysa 49. Mirak Raheem 50. Mohammed Mahuruf 51. Nalini Ratnarajah 52. Nilshan Fonseka 53. Nimalka Fernando - Attorney-at-law 54. Niran Anketell - Attorney-at-law 55. Padmini Weerasooriya 56. Prabodha Rathnayaka Attorney-at-law 57. Priya Thangarajah 58. Priyanthi Fernando 59. Prof. Camena Guneratne - Open University of Sri Lanka 60. Prof. Jayantha Seneviratne - University of Kelaniya 61. Prof. M.S. Mookiah 62. R.M.B Senanayake Retd. CCS 63. Rajaledsumi - Womens Rights Activist 64. Rev. Fr. Anthony Fernando - Salesian of Don Bosco 65. Rev. Fr. Dixon Fernando SDB Rector, Don Bosco Dungalpitiya 66. Rev. Fr. Guy Fonghaland 67. Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos 68. Rev. Fr. Jeyaraj Rasiah SJ 69. Rev. Fr. Joseph Mary SJ - Batticaloa 70. Rev. Fr. Nihal Liyanage 71. Rev. Fr. Rohan Dominic 72. Rev. Fr. V. Yogeswaran Attorney-at-law 73. Rev. Sr. Deepa Fernando HF 74. Rev. Sr. Nichola Emmanuel SCJM 75. Rev. Sr. Victorine James - Holy Cross Provincialate, Kochchikade 76. Rohini Dep Weerasinghe 77. Rosanna Flamer-Caldera 78. Ruki Fernando 79. Sabra Zahid Attorney-at-law 80. Sandhya Eknaligoda 81. Saroja Sivachandran 82. Sathiya Sarasakopal 83. Shashika L. Bandara 84. Sheila Richards

85. Shreen Saroor 86. Shyamala Gomez 87. Solomon Anthony Nirmalan - Claretian Congregation 88. Sudarshana Gunawardana - Attorney-at-law 89. Sunanda Deshapriya 90. Sunela Jayewardene 91. Suriya Wickremasinghe 92. T. Mathuri Attorney-at-law 93. Udaya Kalupathirana 94. Visaka Dharmadasa

Organizations

95. Alliance Development Trust 96. Association of War Affected Women 97. Center for Promotion & Protection of Human Rights (CPPHR) 98. Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD) 99. Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) 100. Ceylon Workers Red Flag Union 101. Citizens' Voice for Justice and Peace 102. Domestic Workers Union (DWU) 103. Equal Ground Sri Lanka 104. Federation of Media Employee's Trade Unions 105. Gandhi Sewa Society - Batticaloa 106. Inform Human Rights Documentation Centre 107. International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) 108. Kantha Shakthi Forum 109. Mothers and Daughters of Lanka 110. Muslim Council of Sri Lanka 111. National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) 112. National Peace Council (NPC) 113. Red Flag Women's Movement 114. Right to Life Human Rights Centre (R2L) 115. Rights Now Collective for Democracy 116. Secretariat for Muslims (SFM) 117. Sisters of the Holy Cross 118. South Asian Centre for Legal Studies 119. Vikalpani National Women's Network 120. Women's Centre - Ja-Ela 121. Women's Development Centre - Jaffna 122. Women's Political Academy 123. Young Asia Television (YATV)