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United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has arrived in Sri Lanka, marking the first visit by a UN rights chief to the island since 2016.
Türk was welcomed at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Sri Lanka’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra, as he commenced a four-day visit to assess the human rights situation across the island. His arrival comes at a time of mounting scrutiny over Sri Lanka’s record on accountability, as the bodies of Tamils continue to be excavated from a mass grave in Jaffna.
According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the High Commissioner is expected to engage with a wide range of stakeholders during his stay, including government and religious leaders, victims, civil society organisations, UN officials, and members of the diplomatic community. Key issues on the agenda include accountability for mass atrocities, reconciliation efforts, and the ongoing impact of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.
In a statement, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it looks forward to a “constructive engagement” with Türk, adding that the government is eager to demonstrate its purported progress on “ethical governance, inclusive economic growth, and advancing human rights and reconciliation.”
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Türk is scheduled to meet with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and several cabinet ministers. Meetings are also expected with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and parliamentarians.
Tamil families of the disappeared have urged the UN human rights chief to meet with them, as well as visit Mullivaikkal, the site of the 2009 genocide. A visit to the Chemmani mass grave site in Jaffna is reportedly scheduled for this week.