The US Secretary of State John Kerry must “not lose sight of the formidable human rights challenges still facing Sri Lanka,” said Freedom from Torture in a statement released on Thursday.
Noting that Sri Lanka was the top referral country for the organisation for a 3rd consecutive year, the statement said,
“This should serve a as a stark reminder that although the civil war ended in 2009, the country is still a far-cry from a rights respecting democracy.”
The statement added that the organisation was “yet to see a credible program to dismantle the torture apparatus that is deeply embedded in the Sri Lankan state.”
Noting that Sri Lanka had made some progress in restoring the rule of law, the statement added,
“It is too early to conclude that Sri Lanka has turned a corner on human rights. Out Tamil clients are very clear in telling us that continued pressure from the United Nations, and states like the US and UK, is key to ensuring that justice and accountability are delivered for all in Sri Lanka.”
“We hope that Secretary of State John Kerry will use his visit to maintain US pressure on Sri Lanka to ensure perpetrators of human rights abuses are held to account because without addressing the injustices of the past, it is very difficult to achieve sustainable reconciliation.”
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