US concerned over HR violations in Sri Lanka

Issuing a statement at the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the US said it was concerned over ongoing reports of human rights violations, abuses by members of the security services and recent attacks targeting members of religious minority communities in Sri Lanka.

We urge the government to hold accountable all those responsible for human rights abuses and violations and to protect religious minorities and their places of worship

The statement said the US welcomed the government’s decision to accept UN recommendations on full implementation of HRC Resolution 30/1.

“We welcome the recommendation on accountability for the government, including the security forces, human rights violations and abuses as well as accountability for those responsible for harassment and violence against members of religious minority communities. We urge the government to hold accountable all those responsible for human rights abuses and violations and to protect religious minorities and their places of worship. We suggest the government to take additional steps to fully implement the commitments it made in HRC Resolution 30/1 and reaffirmed in HRC Resolution 34/1. We look forward to seeing Sri Lanka’s progress on implementing the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations accepted by the government over the next five years,” the statement said.