Some human rights concerns still remain in the country though there was an improvement in overall human rights situation in Sri Lanka in 2015, said the United Kingdom (UK) on Thursday (April 21). The Annual Human Rights Report-2015 issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) had taken positive steps to improve freedom of expression including the media and freedom of movement, reduce inter-community tensions and restore the independence of institutions such as the Human Rights Commission. “The government also signalled its willingness to address long-standing allegations of past human rights abuses and violations co-sponsoring the UNHRC resolution committing it to reconciliation, accountability and the protection of human rights. In a positive change of approach, the government engaged constructively with the international community, including with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other UN bodies,” the report said. It said the UK was a strong advocate for the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) and instrumental in the adoption of the HRC resolution in which the OISL recommendations were reflected. “In 2016, we expect the positive trajectory to continue. This is a moment of opportunity for Sri Lanka, and the international community has an important role to play,” it said. Britain expresses concern on still existing human right violation in Sri Lanka
Some human rights concerns still remain in the country though there was an improvement in overall human rights situation in Sri Lanka in 2015, said the United Kingdom (UK) on Thursday (April 21). The Annual Human Rights Report-2015 issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) had taken positive steps to improve freedom of expression including the media and freedom of movement, reduce inter-community tensions and restore the independence of institutions such as the Human Rights Commission. “The government also signalled its willingness to address long-standing allegations of past human rights abuses and violations co-sponsoring the UNHRC resolution committing it to reconciliation, accountability and the protection of human rights. In a positive change of approach, the government engaged constructively with the international community, including with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other UN bodies,” the report said. It said the UK was a strong advocate for the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) and instrumental in the adoption of the HRC resolution in which the OISL recommendations were reflected. “In 2016, we expect the positive trajectory to continue. This is a moment of opportunity for Sri Lanka, and the international community has an important role to play,” it said.
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