UNHRC inspection team to visit Sri Lanka next week

A technical team from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) office in Geneva on the advice of HR High Commissioner Navi Pillay will arrive in the country on September 14, External Affairs Ministry officials have said.

Sri Lanka is preparing groundwork to welcome the team led by Pillay to witness the progress of the resettlement programs, PTI reported.

Pillay, who has been very critical of Sri Lanka’s human rights situation and insisted on an international investigation into Sri Lanka’s war, has now agreed to visit Sri Lanka.

The team is to offer advice and technical assistance to the government on implementing the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) as required by the US-sponsored UN resolution adopted at the 19th session of UNHRC on March 22 this year. The team is expected to visit the war-torn north and east to get a firsthand look at the government’s resettlement programs and the displaced persons still remaining at the camps and other issues.

Sri Lanka checking on the government’s resettlement programs and the internally displaced people (IDP) issues, external affairs ministry officials said.

The government believes Pillay’s visit will help to enlighten the international community about the progress and development achieved by Sri Lanka after ending terrorism three years ago.

The US-sponsored resolution, which calls for the Sri Lankan government to expedite implementing the LLRC recommendations, encouraged the UNHRC and the office of the HR High Commissioner with the consent of the Sri Lankan government to provide advice and technical assistance on implementing the recommendations.