UNHRC Commissioner to visit Sri Lanka next month

UNHRC Commissioner Navi Pillay is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next month to assess the steps taken by the country on the human rights front, following the end of the three decade long ethnic conflict.
Prathiba Mahanamahewa, Secretary of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission has said that Pillay's visit scheduled for end August would show her the progress made by Sri Lanka in the rights sphere on a first hand basis.
"She is coming despite reports that pro-LTTE diaspora was bringing pressure on her not to visit", Mahanamahewa said.
He added that Pillay would assess Sri Lanka's genuine steps taken to protect Human Rights in the face of accusations levelled by some elements of the international community.

"She will be able to judge our progress and file a report at the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council", Mahanamahewa said.
The 24th session of the UNHRC would happen in March next year where Sri Lanka's action to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) would come under review.

The UNHRC has adopted two successive resolutions on Sri Lanka's lack of rights accountability in 2012 and 2013.
Mahanamahewa said that Pillay would also check on the progress of a report filed by a UNHRC representative delegation which visited Sri Lanka in September last year.

Sri Lanka has branded UNHRC action on Sri Lanka's rights accountabilty as action forced on it by the pro-LTTE diaspora in the West.