The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the cases of the above-mentioned parliamentarians: Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, assassinated on 24 December 2005; Mr. Nadarajah Raviraj, assassinated on 10 November 2006; Mr. Thiyagarajah Maheswaran, assassinated on 1 January 2008; Mr. D.M. Dassanayake, Minister of Nation-Building, assassinated on 8 January 2008; Mr. Sarath Fonseka, who has been the subject of several legal proceedings; and to the resolution adopted at its 190th session (April 2012),

Having before it the case of Mr. Sivaganam Shritharan, who was the victim of an attempt on his life on 7 March 2011 and alleged harassment in the exercise of his parliamentary mandate, which has been examined by the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, pursuant to the Procedure for the treatment by the Inter-Parliamentary Union of communications concerning violations of the human rights of members of parliament,

Considering the report (CL/193/11(b)-R.3) of the Committee’s mission to Sri Lanka from 9 to 11 July 2013 and the authorities’ observations on the report, dated 30 September 2013,

Taking into account the information provided by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Special Envoy of the President of Sri Lanka for Human Rights, to the Committee at the hearing held during the 129th IPU Assembly (Geneva, October 2013),

1. Thanks the Sri Lankan authorities for the information and observations provided and for their cooperation;

2. Also thanks the mission for its work and endorses its overall conclusions;

3. Welcomes the authorities’ continued stated commitment to help ensure that full light is shed on and accountability established for the murders of the four parliamentarians; fully appreciates in this regard that the authorities have been able to find and sentence the culprit in the case of Mr. Maheswaran, that one of those responsible for the killing of Mr. Dassanayake has been held to account and that indictments have been brought against two other suspects; sincerely hopes that, taking into account the observations made in the mission report, it can soon close its examination of both cases;

4. Is deeply concerned, however, that, in contrast to those cases, no progress has been made in the murder cases of Mr. Pararajasingham and Mr. Raviraj, in which the sources have, from the outset, pointed to the possible involvement of paramilitary forces; considers that this regrettable state of affairs, eight and seven years respectively after those crimes were committed, should induce the authorities to do everything possible to look for fresh evidence and to re-examine carefully the existing leads and information;

5. Remains convinced that an effective witness protection bill can help facilitate such efforts and is eager therefore to receive a copy of the witness protection bill once it becomes available;

6. Takes note of the steps taken by the authorities to investigate the attempt on Mr. Shritharan’s life, but regrets that they have not led to any concrete progress towards identifying the culprits; remains concerned about allegations that Mr. Shritharan is being harassed on account of his parliamentary work; considers therefore that it is crucial to follow carefully his situation, including with regard to any possible legal action that may be taken against him;

7. Is saddened by Dr. Jayawardena’s death following a history of heart disease; decides to close further examination of his case, while underscoring all the while that it has brought to the fore the need for adequate protection for opposition members of parliament in their work both in and outside parliament;

8. Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the authorities, the sources and to other parties concerned;

9. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case.

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* The delegation of Sri Lanka expressed its reservation regarding the resolution.

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