The Cabinet of Ministers has authorized the drafting of a new law designed to enhance the rights of Sri Lanka’s indigenous communities. This decision follows a proposal jointly put forward by the former Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms, and the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
Approval and Drafting Process
On May 22, the Cabinet approved the initial proposal, which called for the creation of a new legal framework to better protect and promote the rights of the indigenous population. The Cabinet’s recent decision instructs the Legal Draftsman to prepare a comprehensive draft bill based on this improved fundamental draft.
Development and Consultation
The draft bill has been refined through several rounds of discussions involving multiple stakeholders:
- Government Ministries: Officers from the Ministries of Lands, Wildlife and Forest Conservation, Environment, and Finance participated in the drafting process.
- Legal and Advisory Bodies: Contributions were made by the Attorney General’s Department and the Department of Legal Draftsman.
- Stakeholders: Input was gathered from relevant sector stakeholders, with guidance from the Secretary to the Prime Minister.
These consultations aimed to ensure that the draft bill reflects a well-rounded approach to addressing the needs and rights of the indigenous communities.
Key Objectives
The new law seeks to address several key objectives:
- Rights Protection: To safeguard the cultural, land, and resource rights of indigenous peoples.
- Legal Framework: To provide a clear and enforceable legal basis for protecting indigenous rights.
- Community Involvement: To ensure active participation of indigenous communities in the drafting and implementation processes.
The Legal Draftsman will now work on preparing the draft bill based on the improved fundamental draft. This bill will then be reviewed and potentially revised before being presented to the Cabinet and Parliament for approval.
The introduction of this new legislation marks a significant step towards recognizing and enhancing the rights of Sri Lanka’s indigenous population, aiming to ensure their protection and empowerment within the legal framework of the country.
