CJ calls on authorities to stop war to safeguard Sri Lanka's human rights

Delivering a keynote address to mark International Human Rights Day, Sarath Nanda Silva said peace cannot be achieved through war.

"There is nothing called human rights that can be established through weapons. There is nothing called human rights that can be established through war," the Chief Justice said.

Everybody should be regarded as equals in front of the law irrespective of race, religion or other differences.

'No special qualification'

Addressing the gathering at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) in Colombo, the Chief Justice said the conception that peace can be achieved through war is a mistake.

A person does not to need to possess a special qualification to win human rights and being a human being should be considered the only qualification, he added.

There is nothing called human rights that can be established through weapons. There is nothing called human rights that can be established through war CJ Sarath N Silva

Internationally known as human rights, in Sri Lanka the conception is known as Fundamental Rights, a major need to be safeguarded for the development in any country.

However, the increasing trend that many trying to emerge victorious over others needs to be changed, according to the Chief Justice.

Unfortunately, the CJ said, that process doesn't efficiently take place in Sri Lanka.

People in the north and, earlier in the east, in Sri Lanka are deprived of fundamental rights, he said.

The event was jointly organised by Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights and SLFI.