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The United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC) has recently ruled in Geneva that Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Minister Jayalath Jayawardena had suffered a violation of his fundamental rights by the failure of the then Government to probe death threats against him. The UN Committee was ruling on a plea by Dr. Jayawardena that when he faced death threats during the time of the PA Government following accusations that he was an LTTE collaborator, President Chandrika Kumaratunga had violated his fundamental rights by failing to respond to these threats.

The UN Committee has now given Sri Lanka 90 days to act on the Committee ruling to give remedy to the Minister.

A communique issued by Minister Jayalth states that the UN Committee also ruled:

"that the parts of the communication which relate to the claim in respect of the President's allegations against Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, and the State party's failure to investigate the death threats against Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena are admissible.

that the failure of the State party to investigate these threats to the life of Dr. Jayalth Jayawardena violated his right to security of person under Article 9, paragraph 1, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

that the facts as found by the Committee reveal a violation by Sri Lanka of Article 9, paragraph 1, of the Covenant.

that Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena is entitled to an appropriate remedy.

that the Committee wishes to receive from the State party, within 90 days, information about the measures taken to give effect to its views; the State party is also requested to publish the Committee's views".

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