UN-Sri Lanka

Image:  the military presence in the North and East regions remained heavy and a culture of surveillance and intimidation and harassment in certain instances persisted, says the report. B. Civil and political rights 1. Right to life, liberty and security of person 16. The Special Rapporteur on torture recommended that capital punishment be abolished or, as […]

  Violation of human rights by the Police National Police Commission FACTS Sri Lanka’s independent National Police Commission (NPC) does not have power to discipline & control the police force. Although the NPC has requested to make structural changes to give it the independence and control which it presently lacks, no positive action has been […]

  Rights of persons with disabilities (PwDs) FACTS Although Sri Lanka boasts of a diverse populace, there is virtually no recognition of PwDs as a part of the diversity. Census carried out by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) in 2012 records 8.7% of the total population as PwDs but concerns remain regarding the […]

  Up-country Tamil Plantation Community (Estate sector) FACTS Estate sector workers are predominately Tamil, of Indian origin and Sri Lankan citizens. They have been working in Tea plantations for 150 years now. They are among the most disadvantaged and disempowered groups, with average life expectancy and literacy below the national average, and an infant mortality […]

  Militarisation of the North in Sri Lanka FACTS Government has not implemented any promised security sector reforms in order to pave the way for de-militarisation of the former war zone. Military presence in the Northern Province is hugely disproportionate. Large areas of land are being occupied for these camps. Military is still engaged in […]

    Freedom of Expression. FACTS. Only a few investigations in to killings, abductions and assaults of journalists during the decade ending in 2015 have been initiated. No indictments served on any suspect so far. No investigation has been initiated on killings, abductions and assaults of Tamil journalists and media workers. No investigation has been […]

Image: Vanni no fire zone at the end of  the war. On Monday 23rd October, the UN Special Rapporteur on Transitional Justice, Pablo de Greiff, issued his concluding observations and recommendations following a two-week official visit to Sri Lanka – in essence, a review of the government of Sri Lanka’s progress in addressing the country’s legacy of […]

GENEVA / COLOMBO (23 October 2017) – The Government of Sri Lanka has not made sufficient progress in fulfilling its commitments on transitional justice and related reform processes, a UN human rights expert has concluded after an official visit to the country. Pablo de Greiff, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and […]

Image: Sampanthan meets  Pablo DE GREIFF  in Colombo. ( TNA photo) A meeting was held today between the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence Mr. Pablo DE GREIFF and the Leader of the Opposition and the Tamil National Alliance Hon. Sampanthan in Colombo. Mr. Sampanthan highlighted the […]

Image: a banner calling for more UN involvement in ri Lanka’s TJ process was there to greet Pablo de Greiff in Jaffna.  To Ensure Non-Recurrence UN’s Direct Involvement in the Transitional Justice Initiatives of Sri Lanka is a must, says North East Coordinating Committee in their report to the visiting Pablo de Greiff, the UN Special Rapporteur […]

Image: Dr. Nimalka Fernando speaking at the side event. ©s.deshapriya. Speaking at a side event at  36th session of the UNHRC, Dr. Nimalka Fernando, chair of the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) stated that ‘the international promises made by the Sri Lanka government  must be absorbed into the UPR to prevent […]

Image:  Andrew Gilmou, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights presented the report. The Human Rights Council, in resolution 12/2, expressed concern over continued reports of intimidation and reprisals against individuals and groups seeking to cooperate or having cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights, and deep […]

President Maithripala Sirisena called upon the international community to seriously consider the tremendous progress made by the government towards reconciliation, restoration of democratic freedoms, human rights and the rule of law and extend the fullest support to the slow, but the steady forward march of Sri Lanka to build a progressive, democratic, free and equal […]

Image: Then FM Mangala Samaraweera made Commitments to establish comprehensive TJ process at HRC 30.©slb. The government has taken steps to establish the four transitional justice mechanisms committed to under Resolutions 30/1 and 34/1, says  Sri Lanka’s draft National Report for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Human Rights to be held in November this year. […]

Image: a half built memorial to war dead in Mullivaikal, Mulathiv, Sri Lanka. (c)s.deshapriya.  In is written statement submitted  to the  on going 36 session of  the united Nations Human Rights Council, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), has called upon the Sri Lankan government to adopt The Rome Statue of the […]

In his opening statement  at he 36 session of the UNHRC, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zied urged Sri Lanka to to establish a clear timeline and benchmarks for the implementation of these and other commitments. He further said  that the absence of credible action in Sri Lanka to ensure accountability for alleged violations of […]

Image: Disappearance day 2017 in Colombo. Issuing a press release to mark the  International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances the  Sri Lanka Monitoring Accountability Panel (MAP) says that “in light of the GSL’s lack of progress to date, the MAP will soon release a thematic report addressing alternative avenues for redress and accountability for […]

International Day on Victims of Enforced Disappearances was commemorated by the families of disappeared, affected communities and civil society organizations in North and East on 30th August 2017. In Northern  Province more than 800 people gathered at the Nallur temple premises in Jaffna and publicly read  an open appeal which was addressed to UN Secretary General His Excellency Antonio […]

Image: Day after Sirisena singed the OMP gazette mothers of the disappeared were still continuing their campaign for justice for 148th day in Vavunia (c)s.deshapriya. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutereres, said that establishment of the OMP was a “significant milestone” for all Sri Lankans still searching for the truth about their […]

A meeting was held between the Tamil National Alliance led by R. Sampanthan and visiting United Nations Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffery Feltman today at the UN office in Colombo. Mr. Sampanthan raised concerns related to matters that affect the day to day life of the Tamil people living in the North and […]

Image: Has Sri Lanka government taken  Ben Emmerson for a ride? Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has contradicts Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka on how to proceed enacting controversial Counter – Terrorism Law. In his preliminary findings of the visit to Sri Lanka UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson said that ” I am pleased to […]

Image: UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson, at a media briefing at the conclusion of his mission to Sri Lanka. Preliminary findings of the visit to Sri Lanka: Colombo (14 July 2017), The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Mr. […]

Image: Mr. Ben Emmerson (UN) GENEVA (6 July 2017) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Emmerson will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 10 to 14 July to gather first-hand information on initiatives in the area of counter-terrorism and assess how they affect the promotion and protection of human […]

 Image: UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Emmerson ( UN photo) ECONOMYNEXT – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Emmerson will make an official visit to Sri Lanka next week to check on how the island complies with international human rights law. Emmerson’s visit from 10 to […]

Image: CESCR 61 Sri Lanka session was held 12-13 June  at Palais Wilson, Geneva.©s.deshapriya. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of Sri Lanka* 8. The Committee recommends that the State party build on the national momentum and expedite its Constitutional reform process, including the adoption of a comprehensive […]

By Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. Earlier this month, Britain’s Prime Minister called for human rights laws to be overturned if they were to “get in the way” in the fight against terrorism. Specifically, Theresa May said there was a need “to restrict the freedom and movement of terrorist suspects when we have enough evidence to […]

Image: Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Monica Pinto. COLOMBO, June 20 (Xinhua) — Sri Lanka on Tuesday slammed a report by a special United Nations (UN) envoy, saying she has misled the international community on the judicial process currently followed in Sri Lanka. Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, delivering a statement in […]

By North East Coordinating Committee. Sri Lanka moved from a post war suppressive political period to a new political transit period under a new government which came to power on 9th January 2015. The change has opened a space for the communities and civil societies in North and East areas to come out and openly express […]

Image: Ambassador Ariyasinha in a discussion with Sri Lanka delegation to just concluded CESCR 61 Sri Lanka session. © s.deshapriya. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Geneva Ravinatha P. Aryasinha told UNGRC 35th session that Sri Lanka has taken a number of important steps to uphold the independence of the judiciary and lawyers. He […]

Image: Chairperson, Secretary of the CESCR and Sri Lanka ambassador  at the podium of UN CESCR 61 held at Palais Wilson on 9th June 2017. ©s.deshapriya. By Shreen Saroor. Violent attacks on minority religions have continued with impunity specially against Evangelical Christians And Muslims in Sri Lanka. The government of Sri Lanka accepted recommendations of […]