High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

(as the country concerned following the Oral Update on Sri Lanka by the High Commissioner for Human Rights)

01 March 2024

Mr. President,

The Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, in his address to this Council earlier this week, highlighted that Sri Lanka has over the years engaged actively and constructively with this Council. He also elaborated on our recent engagements with a number of working methods of the Council. It is in this context that I take the floor today, specifically to provide more details on the progress made on matters of relevance to this Council. 

The Government, to overcome the challenges of the recent past, prioritized economic recovery and reconciliation objectives, while ensuring that  the country’s democratic traditions and institutions remained stable at all times. Being sensitive to the economic hardships faced by the people, social safety nets have been strengthened to help cushion the impact of the challenges on the poor and vulnerable. It is undeniable that significant progress has been made in restoring normalcy in the social, political, and economic spheres. This has been welcomed both domestically and internationally. It is envisaged that the Government’s commitment to economic recovery leading to sustainable and stable growth which will benefit all segments of Sri Lankan society in all parts of the country.

Despite severe constraints, our objectives remain steadfast and unwavering towards expediting the ongoing efforts for strengthening the foundation of national unity, post-conflict reconciliation and human rights. Sri Lanka is committed to pursuing progress through already established domestic mechanisms.

Consultations on the draft Truth, Unity and Reconciliation Commission bill are ongoing with the participation of Government, civil society, religious leaders and legal experts. The draft Bill was gazetted on 1 January 2024 and will be tabled in the Parliament after providing sufficient time for the public to express their views on the draft. An interim-Secretariat, to lay the foundation for the Commission, has already been established since May 2023 and continues its work.