The 19th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva is seeing Sri Lanka’s implementation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission recommendations taking centre stage. The United States and its western
allies in particular will be presenting a resolution on Sri Lanka. The indications are that the resolution will call on the Sri Lankan government […]

Nearly three years since the end of the war, there’s a growing need for an accounting of – and for – those killed and missing in the final months of fighting in northern Sri Lanka in 2009. Members of the UN Human Rights
Council, opening its 19th session in Geneva today, should be ready to press […]

Statement by the Hon Mahinda Samarasinghe M.P.Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation to the 19th Session of the UNHRC High Level Segment 27th February 2012, Geneva
I am honoured and privileged to be able to once again share with this august body, Sri […]

Brussels, 23 February 2012: The EU believes that the end of the conflict has offered a historic opportunity to achieve a peaceful and stable future for the people of Sri Lanka. Genuine reconciliation among all groups and communities in this country is essential and this requires justice and accountability for past events. The EU notes the […]

On February 14 a young fisherman, Anthony Fernando, was shot dead while he was engaged with a number of other fishermen in protesting the increase of oil prices which would seriously affect the livelihood of fisherfolk. A
large group of policemen led by the Deputy Inspector General of Police for the North Western Province, Ravi Wijegunawardena, […]

February 17, 2012: We are pleased to hear that the United States has decided to press for action at the March session of the Human Rights Council on accountability
for wartime abuses in Sri Lanka. This issue has long been a high priority for us due to the massive scale of abuses committed in the final months […]

This is a statement by 147 Muslim civil society individuals from communities and groups across Sri Lanka, including the North and East. The Statement calls for
“immediate action by Muslim politicians and civil society representatives to take collective responsibility and to devise mutually agreed upon ways and processes for moving forward.” It also responds to issues […]

CORRECTION: Yesterday we erroneously attributed this statement to the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) we regret the error. It is a joint statement by several concerned individuals. 
17th February 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Several valuable recommendations are contained in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’s (LLRC) Report and they are all the more compelling because they have […]

February 13, 2012:
Under Secretary Otero: Thank you. Good afternoon. I’m pleased to be here in Colombo for the first time.
I’ve had serious and productive meetings with the government of Sri Lanka as well as with civil society, political leaders, and journalists. President Rajapaksa was
kind enough to meet with me and to explain this government’s vision […]

3 February 2012: The 64th commemoration of Sri Lanka’s independence takes place tomorrow (February 4, 2012)at the time when the country’s justice system is in a hopeless crisis. The abuse of the judicial process for political reasons has created doubts about the independence of the judiciary itself. The government shows no will to respect the rule […]