UN rights chief's report on Sri Lanka criticizes government for inadequate progress on reconciliation and accountability

A draft report prepared by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Sri Lanka to be submitted at the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has strongly criticized the government for its slow progress on the areas of justice and, reconciliation.
The 16-page report said although the government made significant progress in rebuilding infrastructure and resettling the displaced people it has not done enough to further investigate allegations of serious violations of human rights and has made commitments on only selected recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). Meanwhile, continuing reports of extrajudicial killings, abductions and enforced disappearance in the past year highlight the urgency of action to combat impunity, the report said. Although it had some limitations, the LLRC nonetheless made significant and far-reaching recommendations for reconciliation and strengthening the rule of law, the HR Commissioner said in her report, adding that the government has made commitments to only some of the Commission's recommendations, and has not adequately engaged civil society to support this process. "The steps taken by the Government to investigate allegations of serious violations of human rights further have also been inconclusive, and lack the independence and impartiality required to inspire confidence," the report noted. Against this background, the High Commissioner had identified possible areas of technical assistance and made recommendations for the Sri Lankan government to follow. The High Commissioner reiterated her call for an independent and credible international investigation into alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, which could also monitor any domestic accountability process. "The Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on advice and technical assistance for the Government of Sri Lanka on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka" has been entered in to the document database of the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council: Reports.Read Full Report