The US Tamil Political Action Council has urged the international community to judge Sri Lanka’s new government by its actions and not by its words.

In a statement released on Friday, USTPAC said the dismay caused by the deferral of the report has been tempered by Human Rights High Commissioner Zeid’s commitment to a stronger outcome.

"USTPAC appreciates High Commissioner Zeid's "absolute and unshakable commitment" to the OISL report's publication in September," said Dr. Karunyan Arulanantham, President of USTPAC. "We also take note of the Government of Sri Lanka's stated commitments, made in conjunction with the announcement of the delayed release, and urge the international community to vigilantly ensure that these commitments are fully honored and translated into measurable metrics."

USTPAC pointed out that several steps towards justice were excluded from the government's commitments, including the full demilitarization of the North, the return of all Tamil lands to their rightful owners, the release of detainees who have not been charged, repeal of Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act, and progress on a political settlement. The advocacy group termed the failure to pledge full cooperation with the OHCHR investigation “a glaring omission from the government's listed commitments”.

Calling on the international community not to lose “focus or momentum in this struggle for justice”, USTPAC urged that all necessary steps to achieve this are taken over the coming months.