Sri Lanka's foreign ministry on Wednesday rejected reports the government would be bound by recommendations made by the UN Special Rapport on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence, Mr Pablo de Greiff who is due to visit the country this month.

"Once Mr. de Greiff presents his Report to the Human Rights Council in September 2018, it is for the Government of Sri Lanka to decide whether there is anything that the Government considers beneficial to the people of Sri Lanka in his recommendations, and whether the Government wishes to draw on his knowledge, expertise and advice and consult him further in any manner," the foreign ministry said in a statement released today.  

"The attention of this Ministry has been drawn to some media reports connected to this visit, which give erroneous and misleading information."

"Mr. de Greiff, as is the case of all Special Rapporteurs, is an Independent Expert in a specific subject area. Special Rapporteurs are mandated to report and advise Governments on human rights from a thematic or country-specific approach. Mr. de Greiff’s mandate is thematic. His mandate, approved by the Human Rights Council in 2011, is the promotion of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence which are the four elements of a comprehensive approach to transitional justice which focuses on promoting healing and reconciliation, establishing independent oversight of the security system and restoring confidence in the institutions of the State and promoting the rule of law. His mandate allows him to make recommendations and advise countries concerning, inter alia, judicial and non-judicial measures when designing and implementing strategies, policies and measures for addressing violations of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law. In his work, the Special Rapporteur follows a victim-centred approach and integrates a gender perspective. The victim-centred approach means ALL victims of a situation of conflict and not one group or one community."

"Like any other Special Rapporteur, Mr. de Greiff too undertakes country visits at the invitation of Governments. The country visits he has undertaken so far includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Spain, Tunisia, Uruguay, Burundi, and Gambia. The terms of office of Special Rapporteurs are decided by the Members of the Human Rights Council."