“Expanding the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate acts of violence caused by racism and religious extremism.”
No plan to prosecute those for alleged war crimes.
At the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council Himalee Arunatilaka, Sri Lanka reiterated their rejection of Resolutions 46/1, 51/1, and 57/1 and the external evidence gathering mechanism on Sri Lanka. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Vijitha Herath confirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to multilateral cooperation in pursuit of peace, prosperity, and sustainability along with the promotion and protection of all human rights.
The resolution, A/HRC/60/L.1/Rev.1: Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, was adopted in Geneva on Tuesday without a vote. Sponsored by the United Kingdom, Canada, Malawi, Montenegro and North Macedonia, and co-sponsored by 22 other countries including Germany, Switzerland and Ireland, the resolution renews the OHCHR’s evidence-gathering project on Sri Lanka and requests further updates through 2027. However, Sri Lanka has opposed it and Ambassador Arunatilaka has said “In our view, this is an unprecedented and ad hoc expansion of the Council’s mandate.” “Sri Lanka does not accept the external evidence-gathering mechanism set up by the OHCHR, which it has labelled as the Sri Lanka Accountability Project.” https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Sri-Lanka-rejects-new-UNHRC-resolution/44-782680
Sri Lanka did not ask for a vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council because it didn’t want to spend public funds on a vote it would lose anyway, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament. https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-didnt-waste-public-funds-by-asking-for-a-vote-at-unhrc-minister-243404/
Sri Lanka faced sustained scrutiny in Geneva as the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) concluded its first examination of the island’s record under the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Experts welcomed the transposition of the Convention into domestic law but raised pointed questions about arbitrary detentions, “short-term” disappearances, intimidation of victims’ families and long-standing impunity. https://island.lk/un-experts-press-sri-lanka-on-disappearances-arbitrary-detentions-and-intimidation-at-geneva-review/
