UN human rights experts call on UNHRC to keep SL under scrutiny 

They urged the  UNHRC to explore all possible options for advancing accountability in the country, including through further international accountability measures.

The UN experts also urged the Sri Lankan authorities to stop rolling back hard fought progress made in recent years on rebuilding democratic institutions, and to press for accountability for past crimes and deliver justice for victims and promote reconciliation between communities.

The independent experts published today an assessment of the government’s follow up to some 400 recommendations made following 10 official visits from 2015 to 2019.

They called on the Human Rights Council to continue its efforts to increase independent human rights monitoring in the country and to ensure accountability for past crimes.

“Human rights experts  are dismayed at the emerging trends setting back the promotion of reconciliation, accountability and human rights, reducing civic space.

They expressed concern on eroding important institutional safeguards for the protection of human rights, issues also raised in the High Commissioner’s report."

They pointed out that the the government’s increasingly majoritarian rhetoric was threatening victims and minority communities.

“The Easter Sunday terrorist attack in April 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic has put an enormous strain on the country. The national security centred response to these crises and the accelerated trend towards militarization of civilian public functions, including through the appointment of active and former military personnel allegedly implicated in war crimes, is alarming,” the experts said.