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Amnesty calls on international community to keep Sri Lanka accountable

Amnesty International has released a report detailing Sri Lanka’s failure to meet its commitments and has called on the international community to reaffirm resolution 30/1, as well as continuing to monitor Sri Lanka’s progression.

Alongside this report, Amnesty issued a joint statement with a number of human rights and international law advocacy organisations. The report criticises a ‘mere technical “rollover” resolution’ which describes as “insufficient unless it includes provision for a clear timetable and framework for Sri Lanka to fulfil its commitments”.

“Anything less would fall substantially short of the expectations of victims and their families, and risk undermining faith in the process long before the promises of reconciliation, justice and reform have been translated into reality. Sri Lanka’s long-term peace and stability hinges upon the international community’s willingness to support the government in addressing the past so that it may look to the future," the statement noted. 

The demand for a clear timetable and “regular reporting to the Council” stems from frustration on undelivered promises. As the report notes, President Maithripala Sirisena promised that all military-occupied civilian land in the north would be released by December 2018, however, Sri Lanka has failed to deliver, with the military still occupying “tens of thousands of acres”. Amnesty said progress made on this issue has been stalled by “broad military claims of national security and the lack of a transparent process”.

Speaking on this issue, Dinushika Dissanayake, South Asia Research Director, Amnesty International says, “where we have seen welcome and notable progress, it has been frustratingly slow. Meanwhile, other commitments have seen no progress at all, especially when it comes to accountability. With the ten-year anniversary of the end of the conflict fast approaching, how much longer must the victims wait for the justice, truth and reparation they deserve?”

Regarding accountability for torture, rape and human rights violations Amnesty said there had "been no sufficient steps taken" to hold perpetrators accountable. 

Sri Lanka's lack of political will to abide by the resolution has again been highlighted by the fact that the government's opposition leader and former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, called on the country to refuse to co-sponsor a UN Human Rights Council resolution currently being tabled in Geneva. 

Read Amnesty International's report here and the joint statement here.

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