The International Crisis Group has released a report rebutting government claims of progress since the end of the civil war more than 2 years ago.

The report examines various government statements that progress has been made on a variety of issues, before looking at the “reality” of the situation.

See the report here.

The group argues that “the risk of an eventual return to violence is growing again”, and states,

“The Government of Sri Lanka has not taken credible steps to ensure accountability for the grave allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity identified in the April 2011 report of the Secretary- General’s Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka.

Nor has the government pursued policies to reconcile the country’s ethnic communities after decades of political violence and conflict.

Instead, its post-war agenda has been to further centralise power, expand the role of the military, undermine local civilian authorities, and politicise the institutions that should uphold the rule of law and combat impunity.”

Citing their previous report, “ Reconciliation in Sri Lanka: Harder than Ever”, the group continued to urge UN member states to “use all available mechanisms” to end impunity and improve IDP conditions, as well as to establish an international investigation into war crimes.

It concludes by saying that members of the UN Human Rights Council who are meeting currently,

“should be prepared in March 2012 to endorse an international inquiry into allegations of crimes by both sides in Sri Lanka’s civil war, unless the government implements a credible accountability process before then.”