Colombo-based diplomats will be briefed by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on the progress made in addressing human rights–related issues over the past year, ahead of his departure to Geneva for the 60th sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which commence on September 8.
The meeting has been convened to provide an overview of the steps taken to strengthen domestic institutions in tackling accountability concerns since the new Government assumed office last September.
Among the initiatives highlighted are measures to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the establishment of an Independent Prosecutor’s Office, Mr. Herath told the Sunday Times.
He emphasized that the Government’s position on rejecting any international involvement in investigating past human rights violations in Sri Lanka remains unchanged, and he will reiterate this stance during his address to the UNHRC.
Nevertheless, Mr. Herath said he intends to present a detailed account of progress achieved in strengthening domestic institutions since the National People’s Power (NPP) came to power, as well as the administration’s efforts to combat corruption.
Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who visited Sri Lanka in June, will table his report on the “Situation of Human Rights in Sri Lanka” during the upcoming sessions.
In his report, a copy of which was released earlier this month, Mr. Türk urged the Sri Lankan Government to explore international legal avenues to advance accountability efforts.
He further recommended that the Government foster an environment conducive to transitional justice by acceding to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and adopting confidence-building measures. These, he noted, should include releasing military-occupied lands, halting new land acquisitions, expediting land titling in the North and East, releasing long-term detainees under the PTA, supporting victims’ memorialization initiatives, and ensuring impartiality within the Office on Missing Persons—potentially through international expertise and monitoring to enhance its credibility.
