UN rights chief calls for Sri Lanka's domestic rights accountability mechanism

Colombo, Jun 26 (PTI) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Thursday stressed the need for Sri Lanka's domestic rights accountability mechanism, saying that it can be supported by international means.
    "Sri Lanka has struggled to move forward with domestic accountability mechanisms that are credible and have the trust and confidence of victims," Volker said while addressing reporters at the end of his three-day visit to the island nation.
    "This is why Sri Lankans have looked outside for justice, through assistance at the international level. Ultimately it is the State's responsibility and it is important that this process is nationally owned – and it can be complemented and supported by international means," he said.
    Volker said he met the President, the Prime Minister, as well as other ministers, political leaders and parliamentarians from across the political spectrum. 
    "Our discussions showed a genuine openness to address complex issues," he said.
    Volker, who discussed an array of human rights issues with a wide range of actors, from the country’s political and religious leaders to members of civil society and victims of human rights abuses, said he felt "a real momentum of change".
    He said that he also had "valuable discussions with representatives of civil society, and I heard heartbreaking testimonies of survivors and victims of human rights abuses".
    "I have followed and been encouraged by the speeches of the President over the past few months in which he has publicly recognised the shared pain and grief of individuals from all communities," Volker said, adding that it is important to build on this momentum and to translate it into tangible results.
    "The new Government has set a fundamental goal of “national unity”. Quick wins and confidence-building measures are key to enhancing trust and reconciliation. My Office remains ready to assist and provide assistance in this regard," he added.
    Volker also stressed the need to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Online Safety Act. The government had briefed him on the progress made on work related to repealing both Acts. 
    The PTA, enacted in 1979, provides the police with broad powers to search, arrest, and detain suspects. The Online Safety Act, enacted in November 2023, empowers authorities to take legal action against those who spread false information or engage in harmful online activities. 
    Sri Lanka’s conflict time accountability has been questioned extensively at the UNHRC sessions since 2012. 
    As many as four resolutions have been passed by the UNHRC membership, which called for accountability by setting up an international prosecution mechanism for rights abuses blamed on both government troops and the LTTE, who led a bloody armed conflict to carve out a separate Tamil homeland.
    The UNHRC action followed a visit by the then UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon immediately after the conflict ended in May 2009 with the military crushing of the LTTE.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)