• Encourage HRC/int’l support to nationally-owned processes as external processes risk polarisation/interference in domestic affairs

During the interactive dialogue on the report of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) on the HR situation in Sri Lanka at the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday (8), a total of 43 countries spoke expressing solidarity with Sri Lanka.

These include Kuwait on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire, the Philippines, Japan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand, Vanuatu, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Nepal, India, Zimbabwe, Viet Nam, China, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Türkiye, Belarus, Egypt, Venezuela, the Maldives, Cuba, South Sudan, the Sudan, the Russian Federation and Burundi.

Expressing solidarity with Sri Lanka, the above countries welcomed Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with the HRC and the HCHR’s visit as a sign of the country’s enhanced cooperation with the HRC; acknowledged the significant developments and tangible progress, including ongoing legislative reforms and encouraged the HRC and the international community to support Sri Lanka in its nationally-owned processes; questioned the allocation of resources to the external mechanism on Sri Lanka when vital mandates in the HRC risk being unfulfilled due to resource constraints; emphasised that externally imposed parallel processes risk polarisation; stated that the imposition of country specific mechanisms on targeted countries undermines the HRC’s founding principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity; expressed concerns at the double standards, politicisation and instrumentalisation of HR to interfere into the internal affairs of countries; and underlined the importance of constructive dialogue and cooperation within the HRC to reach productive results in the promotion of HR.

Meanwhile however, the United Kingdom (UK) has called for “tangible and sustained progress” on HR and accountability in Sri Lanka while also emphasising the importance of exhuming and investigating mass grave sites in accordance with international standards. 

The statement at the dialogue was delivered by the UK’s HR Ambassador Eleanor Sanders. In her remarks, Sanders raised concerns over ongoing issues, including arbitrary detention, custodial deaths, the intimidation of HR defenders, and the targeting of minority communities. Sanders expressed particular concern over the continued use of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act as amended (PTA), despite public commitments by the Government to repeal the law. “We remain deeply concerned about the continued use of legislation such as the PTA to restrict fundamental freedoms despite public commitments to abolish it,” the statement said. 

The UK further urged the Government to reinvigorate the work of domestic institutions focusing on reparations and missing persons. The statement underscored that reconciliation and accountability processes must be inclusive, comprehensive, and aligned with international standards, with the participation and confidence of the affected communities. The UK also called on the OHCHR to continue its work on addressing conflict-related sexual violence, identifying this as a matter requiring urgent attention. “We encourage you to take forward your office’s important work on conflict-related sexual violence and stress the need for this issue to be addressed as a matter of priority in Sri Lanka.” Reaffirming its position, the UK concluded by expressing its willingness to work constructively with the Sri Lankan Government to advance progress on these issues.