During the first day of the 51^st session of the UNHRC council, a coterie of rogue states including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea rushed to Sri Lanka’s defence, touting the country’s alleged progress on human rights and asserting their opposition to UN resolution 46/1.

“We have no desire to dramatize the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka” claimed the Russian ambassador.

During the 51^st session of the UNHRC, western governments responded to a damning report by the UN High Commissioner, which revealed the “active reversal” of progress on accountability, and voiced alarm over Sri Lanka’s “persistent culture of impunity” and deepening militarisation.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said the government "fundamentally" disagreed with the legitimacy of the UN Resolution 46/1 and claimed that the resolution violates the "sovereignty of the people of Sri Lanka" as the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council opened this morning. 

While speaking with the Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) emphasized the need to push for accountability in Sri Lanka.

On 11 September USAID Administrator, Samantha Power, sat down with representatives of opposition parties in Sri Lanka to discuss Sri Lankan governance.

Tamil families from Jaffna arrived in Colombo today to visit their relatives who have been languishing for years in Welikada and Magazine prisons. 

The families set off from Jaffna Press Club yesterday afternoon to bring international attention to the plight of Tamil political prisoners on National Prisoners' Day. 

Signatures calling for the repeal of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) were collected in Jaffna this morning after a campaign was launched yesterday. 

The campaign initiated by the Ilankai Thamilarasu Katchi Youth Wing, Justice for All and the Alliance of Trade Union & MassYouth Front organisations, demands the Sri Lankan government to repeal the notorious legislation which has been used disproportionately to detain and torture Tamils and Muslims.

The hunger strike of 12 Tamil political prisoners, who were detained between 2019 and 2020, has entered its 5^th day as those imprisoned continued to demand for their release.

“We know we can feed this country.”

Farmers in Sri Lanka told me that what they desperately need now is quality fertilizer to increase crop yields. Glad to announce new @USAID funding to help them with upcoming planting seasons. pic.twitter.com/0Zb08ABDSS

A group of US Congress members have urged the State Department to use its leverage at the United Nations Security Council to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a recent article South Asia Director for Human Rights Watch (HRW), Meenakshi Ganguly denounced President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his government for the appoinment of three alleged human rights abusers.

On 8 September, Wickremesinghe appointed 37 new ministers. Three of the 37 appointees are implicated in serious human rights violations.

Ganguly emphasizes that this appoinment is another indication that Wickremesinghe and his new administration “is not committed to protecting human rights, ending impunity, or upholding the rule of law.”

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan