Sri Lanka urged to press ahead with rights reforms

Sri Lanka's new government should advance a reform agenda to address past and ongoing human rights problems in the country, Human Rights Watch said Friday.

The government has already undertaken important new initiatives such as reviewing cases of detainees under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, lifting restrictions on media reporting, ending Internet censorship, and removing NGOs from defense ministry oversight.

However, many important human rights concerns still need to be addressed, the US-based body said in a letter to new President Maithripala Sirisena.

Among them are the use of torture by police, the protection of minority communities, the independence of government oversight committees, and the repealing of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), it said.

Holding accountable those responsible on both sides for violations of international law during Sri Lanka's long civil war was crucial for the country's future, Human Rights Watch said.

"President Sirisena has an important opportunity to right the wrongs of his predecessor," said the group.

"The government's strong initial steps should be followed by lasting measures to re-establish Sri Lanka as a rights-respecting democracy."