SL tells UN it has made significant progress to ensure security of all

Briefing the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Sri Lanka said it has made significant progress in assuring the security of all Sri Lankans and upholding law and order through the implementation of relevant laws and legal processes.

Sri Lanka’s intervention, under Agenda Item 2 of the UNHRC, followed the oral update provided by UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet at the opening of the 41st Session of the Human Rights Council on Monday, where a reference was made to Sri Lanka.

In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said Sri Lanka clarified the latest situation in the country following the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks and its aftermath. 

“Sri Lanka further asserted that the national institutions in Sri Lanka continued to make interventions on issues pertaining to violence and extremism, as the Government pursued effective measures that have led to the dismantling of terrorist networks in the Country,” it said.

In the statement made to the UNHRC, Sri Lanka said two months from the Easter attacks, the country has made significant progress in assuring the security of all Sri Lankans and restoring law and order, through the implementation of relevant laws and legal processes.

“It must also be noted that the State of Emergency was extended in the interest of public security and the preservation of public order, and also to enable those in custody to be kept in custody pending further investigations. Furthermore as it was felt that road checks and guarding of vulnerable locations, including schools, religious institutions and diplomatic missions was still necessary, it was decided that it be best attended to by the security forces. The emergency regulations were necessary to empower the Armed Forces to carry out their duties,” it said.