End practice of 'impunity for crimes': UN official to Lanka

A top UN official has urged the Sri Lankan government to bring an end to the practice of "impunity for crimes", days after a special UN rapporteur voiced concern over the "routine and endemic" use of torture against the people from the Tamil community in the country.
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman visited Sri Lanka from July 19 to 21 and met with President Maithrepala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, other political leaders, senior government officials, as well as civil society groups and relevant diplomatic community, UN Secretary-General's Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters here yesterday.
Haq said Feltman "emphasised the importance that the practice of impunity for crimes would end" and encouraged Sri Lanka to be a model of a post-conflict country with harmonious relations among communities.

Last week, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Emmerson had voiced concern over the "routine and endemic" use of torture against people of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka saying the "staggering" instances of torture are a "stain" on the island nation's reputation.
"The Tamil community has borne the brunt of the State's well-oiled torture apparatus," Emmerson had said after concluding a five-day visit to Sri Lanka.
He had said that the law is used disproportionately against the minority group, with "routine and endemic" use of torture against people detained on national security grounds.
Feltman was in the country during the week in which Sirisena signed the official gazette for the Office of Missing Persons, which Secretary General Antonio Guterres had called an "important step" for all Sri Lankans who are still searching for the truth about members of their families.

Noting that every community has missing persons, Feltman called for a selection process to produce independent, credible and competent commissioners, and a budget.