Core Group notes Sri Lanka’s progress in addressing key reforms limited

The Core Group on Sri Lanka while acknowledging first steps by Sri Lanka to address key reforms, noted that progress since Council resolution 46/1 is limited.

Issuing a statement on Friday at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Sri Lanka Core Group comprising Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, Malawi, Montenegro, the United Kingdom and the United States said, in particular, slow progress by the Office of Missing Persons in fully investigating cases since the release of the preliminary list of missing persons is troubling.

“Our concerns over surveillance and intimidation of civil society persist and detentions, threats and intimidation of journalists and human rights defenders continue. It is crucial that civic space remains open.”

The Core Group welcomed the releases on bail of Ahnaf Jazeem and Hejaaz Hizbullah, but said the proposed changes to the PTA are very limited and our longstanding concerns remain.

“The Core Group on Sri Lanka today while recognising the challenges the island nation is facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, continued to express concern about current human rights developments in Sri Lanka and stressed the importance of a comprehensive reconciliation and accountability process.”

The Core Group noted that new ‘One Country One Law’ taskforce risks undermining Sri Lanka’s pluralist society and urged Sri Lanka to ensure that this taskforce’s work is inclusive and non-discriminatory.

“We call for full cooperation with the High Commissioner and remain ready to support the Government on the implementation of resolution 46/1,” the Core Group said.