HRW urges Lanka to be transparent in implementing UN resolution

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has asked Sri Lanka to step up efforts in building trust among communities and be more transparent on measures it is taking to deliver on its promises.

"As the next UN discussion in June approaches, it is critical for the government to confirm publicly the steps it has taken toward delivering on its promises. Failure to do so has already eroded the trust of some segments of society, particularly Tamil and Muslim groups in the north and east. The government would do well to wipe away the fog of rumor and make clear public statements about what it is doing and how to implement its obligations," a statement from the organization said.

Asserting that Colombo has made progress in handling consultations on constitutional reforms, Human Rights Watch said there was less progress made towards fulfilling the resolution agreed to at the UN Human Rights Council.

"With less than two months to go before the next Human Rights Council session, it is critical for the government to be more open about who the members are and what they have been doing. Even some international bodies that are supposed to be engaging with the working group say that they do not have the most basic information about its structure," the Colombo Page quoted the group as saying.

While public consultations on the "four pillars" are to be opened, the workings of the task force appointed to conduct them remains opaque, the group said. (ANI)