HRCSL to monitor post-tsunami Rights violations

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 January 2005, 18:15 GMT]
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has established Disaster Relief Monitoring Unit (DRMU)) to ensure human rights protection during the post-tsunami reconstruction phase with Mr.Lionel Fernando as its chairman, civil rights sources said.

Mr Fernando, a veteran public servant, served as former Governor of the North East province.

Ms Radhika Coomaraswamy, HRCSL Chairperson, said that Mr.Lionel Fernando will work with Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) project of the HRCSL and the Investigation, Inquiries Division of the HRCSL in ensuring protection of human rights, sources said.

Mr.Lionel Fernando earlier served as the Government Agent of the districts of Jaffna and Trincomalee. He was the chairman of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. Later he held the posts of Secretary of the Ministry for Media, Tourism and Aviation, Secretary to the Foreign Ministry, and the Ambassador in the Netherlands. He also had been the Secretary of Civil Defence Ministry and the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation and Essential Services.