Geneva resolution asks Sri Lanka to implement measures identified in 2015

Sri Lanka was on Thursday given two more years to set up its accountability mechanism to probe alleged war crimes committed during the 37-year civil war in the UNHRC resolution adopted in Geneva.

The Foreign Ministry here said that 36 more countries had co-sponsored the resolution which was adopted without a vote.

This was in addition to the original sponsors — the U.S., U.K., Montenegro and Macedonia.

Transitional justice

Titled “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka” the resolution gives Sri Lanka two years to show more progress on the transitional justice process. Sri Lanka was granted 18 months by a UNHRC resolution in October 2015 to initiate a credible investigation into the nearly three-decades long civil war.

The new resolution requests the government to fully implement the measures identified in the resolution of 2015. This includes engagement with special procedure mandate holders in protecting human rights, asking the UNHRC to provide advice and technical assistance.

The two-year time has been allowed despite strong opposition from the Tamil lobby which cited inaction by the government in showing genuine commitment to the resolution. UN rights council had called for international judges to help investigate possible war crimes to guarantee impartiality.

Sri Lankan government has resisted the call by UN Human Rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein to set up an international hybrid court.

Speaking at the sessions, the Sri Lankan Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva said, “It is always work-in-progress. The people of Sri Lanka have been through extremely difficult and painful times, and although much has been done, there is much still left to do, including strengthening our institutions and achieving economic progress. There are multiple challenges that we face.”