Sri Lanka asks UNHRC to allow the domestic process of accountability to continue without international interventions

Drawing the attention of the United Nations Human Right Council (UNHRC) to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) appointed by the Sri Lankan President, the Sri Lanka delegation has told the Council that the Commission is a domestic process pursuing an agenda of restorative justice to lay foundation for continued reconciliation and allow it to proceed without international interventions.


Head of Sri Lanka mission in the United Nations in Geneva, Kshenuka Seneviratne speaking in a right of reply in response to the statement by the European Union has said that "it would be more constructive to desist from this repetitive refrain on accountability and provide the required time and space for the domestic process already underway, in fulfilling its objectives, designed for the better of our own people."

The LLRC has been established under the Commission of Inquiry Act and the Act empowers the Attorney General to institute criminal proceedings based on the material collected during the course of investigation by the Commission, the envoy has stated in her reply.

"It is universally accepted legal principle that consideration needs to be given to international measures, only when national domestic recourse is unavailable," the delegate has pointed out to the Council.

The Ambassador has told the Council that the UN Secretary-General has recognized and endorsed the essential and non-derogable act of sovereignty of establishing the LLRC.

Ms. Seneviratne has said that the Sri Lankan government is in the process of preparing an invitation to the High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navi Pillai to visit Sri Lanka this year.

The envoy informed the Council that Sri Lanka has taken extensive measures to reduce nearly by 80 percent of the emergency regulations, imposed during the war, and only the bare minimum needed to safeguard the country from the remnants of the terrorist group are in place now.

"The government of Sri Lanka is committed to ensure all freedoms, which would enhance the promotion and protection of human rights," the envoy has asserted.

Several human rights groups have presented arguments to the HRC on Sri Lanka's human rights violations during the Council hearings on Tuesday (15).

Ann Blomberg of Minority Rights Group International has told the Council that human rights violations continued unabated against ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka.

International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism has charged that the National Human Rights Plan presented by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe was rushed, flawed and reframed, and ignored substantive contributions made by civil society.

Ambassdor's reply