It’s time again to beard the UNHRC in its den

The UNHRC is scheduled to hold its 60th sitting from  September 8 to  October 8 this year. On October 9, 2024 the UNHRC adopted a resolution, A/HRC/57/L.1, focusing on promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights. The resolution was sponsored by a group of countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the United States. 

The resolution emphasised the need for international scrutiny and support for accountability mechanisms in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka government rejected the resolution, denouncing the external mechanism and emphasising its commitment to local reconciliation efforts. 

Way back in 2013 the JVP (now a senior partner in the present NPP-led government) called upon all ‘Sri Lankans’ to completely reject the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, and resolutions passed at the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2012 and March 2013.

Minister K.D Lal Kantha, then a politbureau member of the party, said at the time: “…the resolution passed at the UNHRC at its 19th sessions, the report presented by the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the 22nd session of the Council, the resolution adopted at the 22nd session and the LLRC report should be completely rejected by the people of Sri Lanka.”

With the passing of time and now bearing responsibility of governing the country, it appears the JVP has slowly but surely changed its tune. The ’ Daily Mirror’ of 2 September 2025 reported that with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath planning to attend the 60th session of the UNHRC, a ministry source claimed the government would not take a stance hostile to the UNHRC process.

This is good and the NPP government needs be congratulated for changing its initial hardline stance. The fact of the matter is that thousands of innocent Tamil citizens  died in the battle the government waged against terrorism committed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). According to conservative estimates,  at least 40,000 Tamil civilians died in the final stages of the battle.

This is a huge change from claims made by former President Mahinda Rajapakse’s Secretary of Defence claiming not a single Tamil civilian died during the ethnic war. Since President Dissanayake’s victory at the presidential elections, the army ordered the closure of its camp at Paruthithurai in Sri Lanka’s Northern Tamil region. The order, issued by Army headquarters, mandated the camp be shut down and the land returned to its original owners within two weeks.

Unfortunately land owners claim these promises have not been fulfilled as yet. During his recent visit to Jaffna two days ago (1st April),Dissanayake promised that every plot of land in the North, which was acquired for the security forces during the war would be released to the people.

Unfortunately, politicians in our country have a habit of making promises prior to UNHRC meetings -- of releasing lands and freeing of Tamil political prisoners etc. While some lands have been released, such as in the Siththandi area in 2023 and Myliddy in 2017, human rights organisations such as Human Rights Watch claim release of lands has been slow and piecemeal in general. 

The  people of the north voted overwhelmingly for the JVP at both the presidential and general elections. President Dissanayake now needs to practically fulfill those promises he made to the people of the north. He needs to validate the trust they laid in him at both the presidential and general elections.

Fourteen Tamil prisoners are still reportedly being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) according to a US embassy report. The ‘Mothers of the Disappeared’ continue their demonstrations demanding knowledge of numerous disappeared sons, daughters fathers and mothers.

Unless and until the government is seen to be making serious efforts to settle these issues, the divide between the Tamil community and government will not come to an end. No amount of photo ops in rooms filled with little children and a smiling president can substitute for concrete action on the ground.

Nor will the government claims hold water when Foreign Minister Herath visits the UNHRC later this month where he will face Lanka’s accusers at the September sessions of that organisation.

What is needed is concrete action on the ground,  NOT mere words and promises.