UNHRC adopts Resolution on Sri Lanka urging reconciliation and accountability
COLOMBO – The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Monday (6) adopted a new resolution on Sri Lanka calling for concrete steps toward reconciliation, accountability, and the protection of human rights and extending the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) mandate for another two years.
Sri Lanka formally rejected the resolution, maintaining that such external measures infringe upon its sovereignty and domestic jurisdiction.
The resolution – A/HRC/60/L.1/Rev.1: Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka – was adopted without a vote during the 41st meeting of the Council’s 60th session in Geneva.
It was first tabled on September 10 by the Sri Lanka Core Group comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the United Kingdom, was presented in revised form on October 1, 2025, by a coalition of 30 countries. The co-sponsors included Albania, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and others.
The resolution calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to fulfil its longstanding commitments to devolve political authority in line with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, stressing that devolution is essential for national reconciliation and the protection of human rights for all citizens. It urges the government to hold provincial council elections and ensure that councils, particularly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, can function effectively.
It also emphasizes the need for prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into alleged human rights violations and serious breaches of international humanitarian law. The text highlights the importance of including victims and their representatives in these processes and calls for the prosecution of perpetrators where evidence warrants.
The resolution further underscores the need to ensure a safe and enabling environment for civil society actors, journalists, human rights defenders, victims, and survivors. particularly women, free from harassment, intimidation, or reprisals. It urges the government to release civilian lands still held by the military and state authorities and to resolve archaeological, religious, and conservation disputes transparently and without discrimination.
The resolution welcomes the Sri Lankan government’s commitment to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) but expresses concern that detentions under the law continue to disproportionately affect Tamil and Muslim communities. It calls on the government to impose a moratorium on the use of the PTA, expedite its repeal, and ensure any new anti-terrorism legislation aligns with international human rights standards.
It also acknowledges Colombo’s pledge to amend the Online Safety Act, while noting persistent concerns over its lack of judicial oversight and broadly defined offences. The resolution encourages the government to introduce rapid amendments that protect the rights to freedom of opinion and expression in line with international norms.
The mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Sri Lanka has also been extended for a further two years. The resolution requests a written update at the Council’s 63rd session and a comprehensive report at the 66th session, followed by an interactive dialogue to assess progress.
While the resolution was welcomed by several international human rights organizations as a necessary step to maintain international oversight, Sri Lanka and its allies criticized it as unwarranted external interference, arguing that domestic mechanisms are sufficient to address post-war reconciliation and accountability.
-ENCL
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.