The United Kingdom has issued a statement at the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Latest News
The statement was delivered by the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Eleanor Sanders.
Sanders expressed her appreciation for the recent visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Sri Lanka and welcomed his report.
The UK highlighted that the investigation into the recently discovered mass graves in Sri Lanka is of critical importance and stressed that it must be conducted in line with international standards.
The statement also raised concerns over the continued existence of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), pointing out that its failure to be repealed allows it to still be used to restrict fundamental freedoms.
Additionally, the UK reaffirmed its support for the work of the UN Human Rights Office on conflict-related sexual violence, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this issue as a priority.
The statement further indicated that the UK remains committed to engaging constructively with the Sri Lankan government on these matters.
Meanwhile, the core group of countries—comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the United Kingdom—also issued a joint statement to the UNHRC yesterday on the same issue.
The UK’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Kumar Aiyar, delivered the joint statement, expressing his gratitude for the presence of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Vijitha Herath.
Aiyar urged the Sri Lankan government to translate its commitments to human rights, accountability, reconciliation, good governance, and constitutional reform into concrete and meaningful actions.
The 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council commenced yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland. Addressing the session, Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath declared that Sri Lanka firmly rejects any form of external intervention or mechanism proposed to investigate alleged human rights violations in the country.
