• Core Group highlights need to re-energise domestic mechanisms such as OMP
• Calls on Govt. to investigate and prosecute those involved in corruption leading to the economic crisis
• Says Govt. must protect civil society and allow it to operate without hindrance 

A new draft resolution on Sri Lanka co-sponsored by the Core Group at the UNHRC – the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, Macedonia, and Malavi has called on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to enhance its monitoring and reporting on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka, including on progress in reconciliation and accountability, and on the human rights impact of the economic crisis and corruption. 

In the draft that was made public yesterday, the Core Group reminded the Government of its responsibility to comply with relevant obligations under human rights law and international humanitarian law, including prosecution of those responsible for violations of human rights law or international humanitarian law. 

“We call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure the prompt, thorough and impartial investigation and, if warranted, prosecution of all alleged crimes relating to human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law, including for long-standing emblematic cases,” the draft said. 

It noted Sri Lanka’s persistent lack of independence, impartiality, and transparency of domestic mechanisms. It also added that emblematic human rights cases have been undermined through delays and the granting of Presidential pardons to those accused or convicted of crimes relating to grave violations of human rights. 

The Core Group highlighted that domestic mechanisms such as the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations must be re-energised while noting that the tangible results expected by victims and other stakeholders are yet to be achieved.

The draft resolution expressed concern at the human rights impacts of the economic crisis, including as a result of increased food insecurity, severe shortages in fuel, shortages in essential medicines, and reductions in household incomes, while stressing the need to promote and protect the rights of the most marginalised and disadvantaged individuals, including daily wage earners, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.

The Core Group called on the Government to address the ongoing economic crisis and help ensure it does not happen again, including by investigating and, where warranted, prosecuting corruption, including by public and former public officials. The group said it is also prepared to assist and support independent, impartial, and transparent efforts in this regard.

The resolution calls on Sri Lanka to underscore the “importance of addressing underlying governance factors and root causes which have contributed to this crisis including deepening militarisation, lack of accountability in governance and impunity for serious human rights violations and abuses”.

It also expressed concern over other human rights developments since April 2022 including violence against and arrests of peaceful protestors, as well as violence against Government supporters, resulting in deaths, injuries, destruction, and damage to houses of members of Parliament, and stresses the importance of independent investigations into all attacks and for those found responsible to be held to account. 

“(We) Further call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to protect civil society actors, including human rights defenders, to investigate any attacks and to ensure a safe and enabling environment in which civil society can operate free from hindrance, surveillance, insecurity and threat of reprisals,” it said. 

It raised concerns about the continued militarisation of civilian government functions; the erosion of the independence of the judiciary and key institutions responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights; lack of progress in addressing longstanding grievances and demands of Tamil and Muslim populations; surveillance, intimidation and harassment of journalists, human rights defenders, families of the disappeared and persons involved in memorialisation initiatives, and sexual and gender-based violence. 

US Senators move resolution urging international cooperation to address SL’s political and economic crisis