The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, has called on political leaders in Sri Lanka to safeguard democratic governance, the rule of law and human rights, in adherence with the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter.
The Secretary-General has also reiterated the Commonwealth Secretariat’s commitment to support Sri Lanka in protecting and strengthening its institutions and constitutional governance and facilitating economic stability. She called on all in Sri Lanka to exercise restraint with a view to a peaceful transition.
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It is understood that the Secretary-General has been in contact with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other leaders of Sri Lanka.
Speaking on the situation, the Secretary-General released the following statement:
“The Commonwealth is a community that is underpinned by our shared values. As one of the oldest democracies in Asia and a founding member of the modern Commonwealth, Sri Lanka has always shown its strong commitment to these tenets, which are cherished and trusted by its people. I call on all those in positions of leadership to safeguard democratic principles, the rule of law and human rights.
“It is important that the concerns of the people of Sri Lanka on governance and other issues are addressed and I urge continued dialogue to this end and call on the international community to continue to assist Sri Lanka in this hour of economic need. I am hopeful that these challenges will be met according to the letter and spirit of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and the values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter. The Commonwealth Secretariat stands ready to assist Sri Lanka in ensuring constitutional principles, and the values of the Commonwealth Charter, are upheld.”
