UN Human Rights Council adopts universal periodic review outcomes of Sri Lanka

The Human Rights Council adopted the Universal Periodic Review outcomes yesterday of Sri Lanka, Japan and Ukraine.

According to a release on the OHCHR website, Ravinatha Aryasinha, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Office at Geneva, said that of the 230 recommendations received, Sri Lanka had accepted 177 recommendations along with 12 voluntary pledges.  

Further he was quoted as saying progress was already being made concerning the implementation of recommendations.  Sri Lanka had acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, the Ottawa Convention prohibiting mines as well as to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.  The Office on Missing Persons had been made operational, the Human Rights Commission had been designated, and work on the establishment of the Office for Reparations was underway. 

In the discussion, speakers commended Sri Lanka’s progress in the field of human rights, namely the adoption of the National Plan of Action for Human Rights 2017-2021, the ratification of numerous international human rights instruments, and efforts to combat torture, reduce poverty and foster socio-economic development.

 Nevertheless, speakers voiced concern about violent attacks against the Muslim community, economic activities endangering the environment, and draconian provisions of the Anti-Terrorist Act.  The appointment of the Commissioners for the Office of Missing Persons was welcomed as a first and long-awaited mechanism for transitional justice.