The Tamil Nadu based NGO, Pasumai Thaayagam, urged the UN Human Rights Council to ensure that the 6 months granted to the new Sri Lankan government lead to tangible improvements to the Tamil people.

"Six years since the end of the armed conflict, Sri Lankan troops, who are almost entirely ethnically Sinhalese, continue to be deployed across the Tamil areas in the North-East," the NGO's representative Vinthan Asokanathan told the Council on Friday, during an Item 5 general debate on minority issues.

Acknowledging the new government's ambitious 100 day plan to reform the state, Pasumai Thaayagam said it "while these reforms provide welcome reprieve to the Sinhala Buddhist people - who are the larger in population, and who have also had their freedoms curtailed by the previous government - the proposed reforms fail to address the concerns of the Tamil people who have faced discrimination and oppression by successive Sinhala majority governments."

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Pasumai Thaayagam wishes to express its ongoing concern about the minority rights.

There is a new government in power in Sri Lanka. They have made promises of reform outlines in an ambitious 100-day plan, which addresses issues of good governance, accountability, rule of law, devolution of power and judicial independence, which are the foundations of a sovereignty.

While these reforms provide welcome reprieve to the Sinhala Buddhist people, who are the larger in population, and who have also had their freedoms curtailed by the previous government, the proposed reforms fail to address the concerns of the Tamil people who have faced discrimination and oppression by successive Sinhala majority governments.

Six years since the end of the armed conflict, Sri Lankan troops, who are almost entirely ethnically Sinhalese, continue to be deployed across the Tamil areas in the North-East. The ongoing presence of a de-facto military occupation of the Tamil people’s historical homeland has a catastrophic effect on the day to day lives of the Tamil people, leaving Tamils as IDPs in their own land.

The visible presence of troops on the street and ongoing undercover military surveillance means that the climate of fear, which has lifted in the Sinhala south, but continues in the Tamil areas.

Reports of sexual violence against Tamils by Sri Lankan troops continue. Many of whom are left no option but to work at military run civilian establishments. In over 60 years, the rape of Tamils by security forces has not led to credible inquiries nor prosecutions.

Despite the pledges of reconciliation made by the new government, they have refused to meaningfully demilitarise the North-East. Days after the election, the newly elected prime minister, met with the powerful Sinhala Buddhist clergy, and assured them that the military would stay in the Tamil areas.

This does not provide any hope of reconciliation following an ethnic conflict. Demilitarisation is key to allowing the Tamil people to rebuild their economy and lives.

Pledges of freedom of expression, freedom of speech, are meaningless whilst Tamils live under military occupation and fear of arrest.

The OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka report has been deferred until the 30th session, in order to give the new government time to cooperate. The next six months must deliver tangible improvements to the Tamil people. They have waited long enough.