Geneva, September/October 2025
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) oral report based on his written report, September 8, 2025 https://youtu.be/u_hebwD0fRE?si=BMN-_48S-QVsKH1Q
Full interactive dialogue on Sri Lanka, September 8
HCHR, plus statements of country groups, starting at 2hrs, 57min, 54sec – 1st Meeting – 60th Session of Human Rights Council | UN Web TV
Country statement, plus NGOs, from the beginning – 2nd Meeting – 60th Session of Human Rights Council | UN Web TV
Sri Lanka Foreign Minister’s statement – Statement delivered by Hon. Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism at the 60th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva 8th September 2025 | Sri Lanka
UK statement –UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the Report of OHCHR on the Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka – GOV.UK
India statement – India statement re HCHR report on Sri Lanka during ID Sept 8 2025
Core Group statement – UN Human Rights Council 60: Core Group Statement on the Report of OHCHR on the Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka – GOV.UK
Thank you, Mr President,
This statement is on behalf of the Sri Lanka Core Group comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the United Kingdom.
We are grateful for Minister Herath’s presence today.
High Commissioner,
Thank you for your report and recent country visit which underscored both enduring challenges and opportunities for reform.
Your Office has previously documented gross human rights violations and abuses, including unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, sexual and gender-based violence and arbitrary detentions.
As you noted, Sri Lanka has an opportunity to break from its past and heal deep scars that continue to impact victims, survivors, and their families.
We welcome the government’s decision to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act. We urge the government to turn its commitments into meaningful actions on human rights, accountability, reconciliation, good governance and constitutional reform.
Addressing longstanding impunity is essential to build trust among victims and survivors in domestic judicial processes. We support a fully independent and effective public prosecutorial body.
It is crucial that investigations at mass grave sites are carried out in line with international standards and that journalists, human rights defenders and civil society organisations can operate freely and safely.
We remain willing to work constructively with Sri Lanka.
Thank you.