Global watchdogs criticise Lanka's rights record

Several international watchdogs today warned the UN expressing dissatisfaction at Sri Lanka's progress in tackling human rights violations, saying the country's performance in this regard has not been according to expectations outlined in the world body's report.
In an open letter today to the UN Rights Chief Zeid Raad Al Hussein, the New York based Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists among others have expressed dissatisfaction.
The letter is forwarded ahead of the UN rights chiefs oral update on Sri Lanka at the ongoing 32nd sessions of the UNHRC in Geneva.
"While the governments' assurances on progress have been plentiful, its performance on the ground has been mixed and not befitting expectations outlined in your report and in the resolution as well as those of victims and people on the ground," the letter said.

It also noted there have been mixed signals on the governments' commitments made through the October resolution, at the highest level of the government.
There have been distressing reports on the ongoing use of arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) instead of the regular criminal code.

The PTA is a draconian law consistently condemned by UN bodies and officials and which the government had pledged to repeal as part of its October commitment, the letter said.
Repealing the PTA and dealing with the outstanding cases of those still detained under the law should be a foremost priority, it said.

The government in October last year co-sponsored the UNHRC resolution which called for a credible mechanism to probe alleged human rights abuse blamed both on the government and the LTTE during the final phase of the civil war in 2009.
The rights groups said they were convinced that the government needs to meet clear benchmarks in relation to commitments it had made to its people and the international community.
"Mindful of the long history of failed efforts towards reconciliation and accountability for human rights violations in Sri Lanka, we are worried that in March 2017, the absence of clear progress may cause a loss of confidence in the current UN backed process for justice, accountability and reconciliation," the letter said.