• Notes that GoSL has not ratified many conventions, only signed them in part, or not at all

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) stated that it is studying international treaties that are beneficial to the country and recommending to the Government which of these should be signed.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, HRCSL Commissioner Nimal G. Punchihewa said that the Commission looks at conventions that could strengthen rights protections in Sri Lanka, and advises the authorities on those that are necessary and practical to adopt.

“There are many conventions that we haven’t fully ratified yet. Some have been signed in part, and others, not at all. For example, in the case of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Sri Lanka has only signed two out of the three Optional Protocols. Our role includes reviewing such treaties, identifying their value for the country, and encouraging the Government to take appropriate action. We are doing it,” he said.

International treaties are formal agreements between countries or international bodies, creating legal obligations under international law. They are key to global cooperation – setting shared rules, offering protections, and helping states work together in areas like human rights, trade, the environment, and security. For countries like Sri Lanka, they provide a framework to align domestic laws and practices with globally accepted standards.