India told Sri Lanka to "take the necessary steps to address the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil community" during the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session yesterday as member states reacted to the UN High Commissioner's latest report.

"India believes that it is in Sri Lanka’s own interest that the expectations of Tamils in Sri Lanka for equality, justice, peace and dignity, within a united Sri Lanka, are fulfilled," Mani Pandey, India's Ambassador told the Council. 

"This applies equally to the commitments made by the Sri Lankan Government on meaningful devolution, including through the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution," Pandey added. 

The 13th Amendment was established in 1987 as part of the Indo-Lanka accord and created the system of Provincial Council, promising greater devolution of land and police powers to a merged North-East. However, Sri Lanka has failed to implement the accord. 

Earlier this year, Tamil political parties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kootani (TMTK), and Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) urged India to ensure that Sri Lanka abides by its commitments under the 13th Amendment and devolve power to the Tamil provinces as a starting point "towards a federal structure". The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) have campaigned against the implementation of the 13th Amendment as it would create a setback in the political struggle for Tamil self-determination.

"We will continue to urge the Sri Lankan Government for the early conduct of elections to the Provincial Councils in keeping with its commitment to devolution of power," the statement concluded. 

During the interactive dialogue, member states reacted to UN High Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet's 2022 report which expresses concern over the lack of accountability for human rights violations committed by Sri Lanka and reiterates her previous call to member states to use universal jurisdictions and targeted sanctions against alleged perpetrators of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. 

Speaking at the session yesterday, Bachelet told member states to "pursue alternate strategies to advance accountability at the international level" as successive Sri Lankan governments have demonstrated their "unwillingness to pursue accountability." 

In her report, the human rights chief highlighted that “there has been a further drift towards militarisation and an emphasis of Sinhala nationalism and Buddhism in State institutions has become more visible" and called on member states to use universal jurisdictions and targeted sanctions against alleged perpetrators of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.

Read India's full statement here.