The UNHRC Core Group on Sri Lanka has called upon the island nation’s government to address the harmful legacies of war and protect human rights, including those from religious minorities.

Delivering a statement at the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Core Group on behalf of Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, Malawi, Montenegro and the UK regretted the lack of progress on these issues.

Noting that the Sri Lankan government has attempted to dismiss several emblematic cases, the Core Group alleged that the government also tried to initiate criminal proceedings against individuals pursuing some of these cases, ColomboPage reported.

“We are deeply concerned about the ongoing use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the recent intention to introduce a rehabilitation process lacking adequate judicial oversight.

“Human rights lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah, and poet and teacher Ahnaf Jazeem, remain detained without trial and further arrests under this Act have continued, including among minority communities and the political opposition,” the Core Group said.

It appealed to Sri Lanka to cooperate with the Council and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

(SAM)