Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has cautioned the government against using the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) for political vendettas.

Speaking at a meeting today at the Opposition Leader’s Office with members of the Pure Hela Heritage group, chaired by Udaya Gammanpila, Premadasa emphasised that the ICCPR was established to protect human rights, promote social harmony, and ensure a peaceful and united society. He warned that, in practice, the covenant has sometimes been misapplied domestically to justify political punishments, thereby violating the very human rights it was meant to safeguard.

Premadasa highlighted that the international Rabat Plan of Action includes a six-part review mechanism designed to assess whether the ICCPR has been infringed. He stressed that any examination of rights violations should consider the context, content, nature, and potential harm of statements or actions, and must prevent misuse of the covenant for political purposes.

He urged the government to uphold the true purpose of the ICCPR, protect human rights, and refrain from using alleged violations as a tool for political retaliation.

Premadasa also reiterated that the covenant should be implemented correctly, in line with its original intent, rather than being exploited to target individuals or political opponents.