Responding to UN resolution on Sri Lanka, which mandates that the Office of High Commissioner for Human rights must gather and preserve evidence for a future war crimes tribunal, former Indian Finance Minister and member of the Rajya Sabha, Palaniappan Chidambaram described India’s abstention as a “gross betrayal of the Tamil people”.

On Twitter he stated:

The Sri Lankan army and forestry department has continued its ban on Tamil villagers of North Nedungeeni Vedivaithakal in Vavuniya from entering the village. 

Another Tamil father who was searching for their forcibly disappeared son for over a decade passed away this week in Vavuniya. 

Kanagaiya Ranjanamurthy, 63, from Vinayagapuram, Vavuniya, joined other Tamil families of the disappeared in roadside protests in the district for 1495 days, demanding justice for their forcibly abducted loved ones.

Responding to the recently passed UN resolution, which mandates that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human rights collect, “consolidate, analyse and preserve” evidence of war crimes for a future tribunal, Sri Lanka’s main opposition party the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB, or United People’s Front) has called for yet another “domestic accountability mechanism”.

"The SJB is committed to an internationally credible, independent domestic accountability mechanism" read their press release.

Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marc Garneau, welcomed the adoption of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on promoting accountability in Sri Lanka and noted in a statement that it's mandate will be "critical for future accountability processes." 

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution is a "step towards justice and accountability" but member states must pursue "decisive action beyond the Council," said the People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL), the US-based advocacy group. 

The UNHRC adopted a resolution on Sri Lanka yesterday which will mandate the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to "collect" as well as "consolidate, analyse and preserve” evidence that could be used in future war crimes trials.

Amnesty International has welcomed the new UN Resolution on Sri Lanka, which will mandate the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to "collect" as well as "consolidate, analyse and preserve” evidence that could be used in future war crimes trials, describing it as "an important step forward" for victims of Sri Lanka's armed conflict but maintaining that it would depend on UN members taking "concrete action".

British ministers and diplomats have welcomed the adoption of the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on accountability for mass atrocities committed in Sri Lanka, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Rabb noting that "the UK, UN and international community are rightfully concerned about human rights in Sri Lanka".

Rabb added that resolution pushes for "progress on justice, accountability and reconciliation" 

Ahead of the passing of a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka, a US$2.8 million budget was being requested by the global body to begin collecting evidence of mass atrocities that could be used for future war crimes trials.

CIVICUS welcomed the resolution passed on Sri Lanka this morning in Geneva but said it "represents a missed opportunity to mandate an international accountability mechanism." 

In a statement reacting to the United Human Rights Council resolution, CIVICUS welcomed that the resolution "raises serious concerns" over the shrinking space for civil society which has been "squeezed tighter under the Rajapaksa government." 

"Independent NGOs are increasingly being silenced and even peaceful protests seeking accountability by victims of the civil war have been targeted," CIVICUS added