To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Government of Sri Lanka on human rights and religious discrimination.
Answered on
26 October 2017
Her Majesty's Government remains firmly committed to the promotion of human rights and the protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief in all countries. During my recent visit to Colombo and Jaffna I raised the importance of the Sri Lankan​ Government implementing in full, its commitments under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 34/ 1, which reaffirms Resolution 30/1. Section 11 of this Resolution encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate all attacks on members of religious minority groups and places of worship and hold perpetrators to account.
Through our bilateral work we fund a project supporting the development of two District Inter-Religious Committees in the Eastern Province, which bring together community leaders from different faith groups to discuss and mediate local issues of concern. We regularly discuss these issues with the Government and faith groups, and use public statements and social media to promote tolerance.