Sri Lanka needs to move faster on key reconciliation issues: UN

COLOMBO/GENEVA: The UN human rights chief has said Sri Lanka needs to "move faster" on key issues like release of land held by the military, even as he acknowledged the "powerful symbolic gestures" made by the country to achieve reconciliation with the minority Tamil community.

Sri Lanka has been under international focus to fully implement the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution of last October.

Sri Lanka co-sponsored the resolution with the US which called for accountability on the alleged war crimes committed during the final phase of the military conflict with the LTTE that ended in May 2009.

"Sri Lanka is on its own journey toward accountability, reconciliation and durable peace. Important steps have been taken to reform the Constitution, revive independent institutions and restore an environment for free expression and debate," Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement at the 31st session of the Council.

"Powerful symbolic gestures of reconciliation have been made, for instance singing the national anthem in Tamil - although other steps, such as the release of land held by the military, reviewing the cases of security detainees, and resolving the issue of disappearances, need to move forward faster," he said.

Hussein said the next few months will be important as the Sri Lankan government embarks on national consultations for the design of a comprehensive transitional justice process to implement fully this Council's resolution.

"It will be very important that this takes place in an environment free of surveillance and intimidation, so the voices of victims can be heard. Reports of violations must be promptly investigated and addressed," he said.

Hussein visited Sri Lanka in February to have consultations on the progress which will be reviewed at the June session of the UNHRC.

Meanwhile, the European Union said tit expects Sri Lanka to work in close cooperation with the UN Human Rights Commissioner's office in order to fully implement the resolution.