United Nations Human Rights Council UNHRC, has granted Sri Lanka a two-year extension to fulfill obligation relating to reconciliation and accountability on war crimes during the civil war which ended in 2009. The resolution granting the extention was sponsored by 40 countries including United States and United Kingdom and adopted without a vote last night. It welcomed the steps taken by Sri Lanka to implement UNHRC resolution adopted in October, 2015 and called to fully implement the outstanding issues. <br/><br/>During the interactive dialogue, UNHRC chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein expressed concern over Sri Lanka's slow progress in establishing transitional justice mechanisms to address the accountability. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy, with a time-line and detailed benchmarks, to address all the transitional justice pillars identified in Resolution 30/1. <br/><br/>Deputy Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Dr Harsha de Silva in his statement said, the island nation is committed to the reconciliation agenda including truth, reparations, justice and non-recurrence with a victim-centered approach. Minority groups and human rights activists have been critical of Sri Lankan government for slow progress in war crimes probe and accountability measures.

United Nations Human Rights Council UNHRC, has granted Sri Lanka a two-year extension to fulfill obligation relating to reconciliation and accountability on war crimes during the civil war which ended in 2009. The resolution granting the extention was sponsored by 40 countries including United States and United Kingdom and adopted without a vote last night. It welcomed the steps taken by Sri Lanka to implement UNHRC resolution adopted in October, 2015 and called to fully implement the outstanding issues. <br/><br/>During the interactive dialogue, UNHRC chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein expressed concern over Sri Lanka's slow progress in establishing transitional justice mechanisms to address the accountability. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy, with a time-line and detailed benchmarks, to address all the transitional justice pillars identified in Resolution 30/1. <br/><br/>Deputy Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Dr Harsha de Silva in his statement said, the island nation is committed to the reconciliation agenda including truth, reparations, justice and non-recurrence with a victim-centered approach. Minority groups and human rights activists have been critical of Sri Lankan government for slow progress in war crimes probe and accountability measures.