![]() Protecting the rights of others is our divine duty that we are all called upon to perform - Bishop Valence Mendis "At the final judgment our creator will ask “I was hungry, naked, hospitalized, was in prison; did you visit me? (Matthew 25:35-40) God is aware of our daily struggle and very specially the struggle of the poor. Protecting the rights of the victims is our divine duty that we are all called upon to perform”. Rt. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis, the Bishop of Kandy stated during his homily, at the thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration organized by the Human Rights Office Kandy in conjunction with the International Human Rights Day 2023 and the 15th anniversary of the Human Rights Office. Further, the Bishop commended the work done by the staff of the Human Rights Office under the leadership of Fr. Nandana Manatunga, the director, for the past 15 years. “The Human Rights Office has journeyed with the victims in their struggle to seek justice when they were vulnerable & voiceless”. A large number lay faithful including victims, lawyers, support group members, civil society activists, Rev. Fathers and Rev. sisters joined the thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration in praising and thanking God.
In his keynote address, the President's Counsel Hon. Saliya Peiris pointed out the importance of voicing against torture done by the officials of the government institutions, including police officers. He further questioned the unethical appointment of Acting Inspector General of Police and said it is for the first time in history, that an Inspector General of Police (IGP) who was convicted for violating fundamental rights and who was ordered by the Supreme Court to pay compensation with his private money was appointed an IGP Further Hon. Saliya Peiris said that the Minister of Public Security in one of his speeches directly criticized the appearance of lawyers on behalf of the aggrieved parties in the proceedings in cases of unlawful arrest made by the police. “Police officers who follow illegal orders of the superiors face the consequences related to such offenses and become the victims and will suffer alone as they will not be helped by the senior officers”.
The gathering was also addressed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Kumara Ilangasinghe, the Bishop Emeritus of the Anglican Church in Diocese of Kurunegala, Human Rights activist Mr. Ruki Fernando and some of the survivors. During their sharing’s, they appreciated the commitment and the consistency of the director and the staff of the Human Rights Office in assisting and journeying with the victims of Torture, Rape and gender based violence, families of the disappeared, the prisoners and their families and victims of all human rights violations. The work carried out by the Human Right Office for the past 15 years was appreciated by the participants as well.
Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga thanked the Bishops, priests, the religious, the lawyers, doctors, educators, lecturers, counselors, artists, the international partners and all those who supported the Human Rights Office during the past 15 years, very specially those who were in solidarity during the most difficult and challenging times. The programme was colored with items such as performing Art and dances.
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