United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein commended the progress achieved by the Sri Lankan government in terms of the 2015-UN Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution on Sri Lanka.
However, the UN Human Rights Chief Prince Hussein has requested Sri Lanka to be dynamic on the reconciliation process. Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has informed President Sirisena that he will fully cooperate with the Sri Lankan government’s efforts in achieving solutions to the UN Human Rights Council resolution.
A meeting was held between Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein and President Maithripala Sirisena on September 22 to coincide with the 72nd sessions of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where these views were expressed.
President Sirisena has told the UN Human Rights chief that Sri Lanka had been a member of United Nations for 62 years and it has always been a country that respected its treaties and conventions, agreements, and rules and regulations, while acting to improve such relations further, and fulfil public aspirations. Explaining the progress achieved by the Lankan government on the reconciliation process, the President stated that a gazette notification establishing the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) had been issued in terms of the UNHRC resolution. He further explained that the releasing of lands to the original owners in the North and East is in progress despite several obstacles.
The President also said, a preliminary report pertaining to the new constitution has been tabled in Parliament. Assuring that the progress pertaining to the UNHRC resolution can be achieved within a period of two-years, President Sirisena invited the UN Human Rights chief to visit Sri Lanka next year to witness the progress of the country’s reconciliation process. Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein accepted the fact that the reconciliation process is not an easy task when analyzing worldwide experiences.
The President concluded his six-day official visit on September 23.