New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, hosted 40 senior civil servants from Sri Lanka as part of an exposure visit under a capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening democratic governance, institutional integrity and human rights protection.

Exposure visit under India–Sri Lanka capacity-building programme

The Sri Lankan officers visited NHRC during the 14th capacity-building programme organised by the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) under the International Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs. The programme focuses on sharing India’s governance practices and public policy experiences with partner countries.

Democracy and governance: Three pillars

Addressing the delegation, NHRC Chairperson Justice V Ramasubramanian said that the legislature, judiciary and executive form the three essential pillars of democracy and good governance. He noted that India and Sri Lanka share similarities such as a common law system inherited from British rule and comparable judicial functioning, shaped by economic and geopolitical realities.

Role of civil servants in democratic systems

Justice Ramasubramanian emphasised that civil servants play a crucial role as a bridge between the legislature and judiciary, influencing governance and policy outcomes. He stressed the responsibility of administrators to ensure equitable delivery of resources to citizens to prevent social unrest and called for vigilance against internal and external challenges, including social media–driven triggers.

India’s human rights framework and institutional strength

Speaking on the theme of human rights protection, NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal highlighted India’s civilisational values of empathy, compassion and non-violence as the ethical foundation of governance. He underlined the importance of the Constitution, the Protection of Human Rights Act and the judiciary in safeguarding dignity, transparency and accountability.

Institutions, accountability and global cooperation

Bharat Lal warned that corruption and weak governance can erode institutions and social stability, asserting that strong, independent institutions directly improve citizens’ quality of life. He also spoke about NHRC’s role in monitoring human rights violations, engaging with international mechanisms and contributing to Global South cooperation.

NCGG’s role in capacity-building

Dr. AP Singh, Associate Professor and In-charge (Administration), NCGG, said the Centre trains senior civil servants from various countries to share India’s governance experiences and best practices, strengthening bilateral cooperation and administrative ties.

Welcome to the delegation

Earlier, Joint Secretary NHRC, Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak, formally welcomed the Sri Lankan delegation and dignitaries, marking the beginning of the exposure visit.