§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to review economic or military aid to Sri Lanka in light of its record on human rights.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAs my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs stated in his written reply of 24 July 1991 to a question from the hon. Member, following the Sri Lanka Government's expulsion of our previous high commissioner in Colombo we took a number of measures including delaying consideration of major new aid commitments pending the appointment of a new high commissioner and a further review of the human rights situation.
Our new high commissioner took up his post in November, and the review will take place in the near future, with the benefit of his advice.
§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on the Students for Human Rights organisation in Sri Lanka; and what efforts he has made on behalf of its secretary Camunu Yasus Senviratne who disappeared on 9 December 1989.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe are aware of the Students for Human Rights organisation but have had no recent contacts with them. Our High Commissioner and other heads of mission in Colombo made representations to the Sri Lankan authorities about Mr. Senviratne's disappearance at the time. The Sri Lankan Government are in no doubt about our deep concern at the number of disappearances in recent years.
§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many political prisoners he estimates to be in Sri Lankan jails; and if he will call through the United Nations for the abolition of the emergency regulations.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAuthoritative figures are not available, and estimates vary considerably. We have regularly encouraged the Sri Lankan Government to review the need for all its emergency regulations, but have no plans to raise the matter in the United Nations.
§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding human rights abuses in Sri Lanka in the past three months.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI receive regular reports on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. The most significant recent development has been the Sri Lankan Government's undertaking on 12 December to implement most of the recommendations made by Amnesty International in its September 1991 report on "Sri Lanka—The North East". We welcome this and will continue to watch the situation closely.