UN to review Sri Lanka rights situation in Oct./Nov.

A UN review of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka will take place in October-November, officials said Sunday.

 The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of some countries, including Sri Lanka, will take place in Geneva, Xinhua quoted the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka as saying.

 The last review was held in 2008. Colombo accepted 52 UPR recommendations and rejected 25.

 The accepted recommendations include ensuring independence of the human rights institutions and taking steps to safeguard the freedom of expression and human rights of displaced people.

 Recommendations such as to accept an independent international human rights mechanism was rejected by the government.

 Sri Lanka has come under widespread criticism after thousands of civilians and combatants were killed when the military crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009.

 The UPR was set up by the UN General Assembly to review human rights obligations by each member country on a periodic basis.