The Sri Lanka Core Group at the UNHRC, comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, has issued a statement urging the Sri Lankan government to address long standing human rights violations.

The group emphasized the need for accountability and protection of human rights in the country.

The statement delivered by Rita French, Britain’s Global Ambassador for Human Rights and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, emphasized that any new legislation developed and implemented by Sri Lanka, including laws related to counter-terrorism and online safety, must fulfill its human rights obligations, adding that safeguarding freedom of expression for all citizens is crucial.

The statement said :

Thank you for your recent report on accountability for enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka which highlights longstanding impunity for human rights violations. We call on the Government to engage with its recommendations to address the suffering caused by enforced disappearances and its impact on all communities.

It is crucial that any new legislation developed and implemented by Sri Lanka, including legislation relating to counter-terrorism and online safety, fulfils its human rights obligations, including protecting freedom of expression for all.

We stress the need to safeguard judicial independence and the independence and transparency of the country’s legal institutions. While we welcome the release of land from the High Security zone in Jaffna, we remain concerned by ongoing reports of tensions related to land seizures in the north and east of Sri Lanka and by reports of arbitrary arrests, irregular searches, and ill-treatment in detention during police operations.

We urge the Sri Lankan government to ensure that transitional justice mechanisms are independent, inclusive, impartial, transparent, and meet the expectations of affected communities.