While commending the Sri Lankan Government for the ‘physical’ reconciliation work in the North and resettlement of IDPs, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillai said today that she remained concerned about the lack of ‘meaningful progress on accountability and reconciliation.’

Pillai added that, ‘although I support the National Plan of Action for the implementation of the LLRC recommendations I do this that this is being done selectively.’ She welcomed the engagement by the Human Rights Council to monitor domestic processes especially regarding accountability.

Excerpt of statement by Navi Pillai;

While clearly the Sri Lankan Government has invested in the physical aspects of reconciliation and development in the North of the Island including the resettlement of IDPs, all of which I welcome. I remain concerned about the lack of meaningful progress on accountability and reconciliation. Although I support the National Plan of Action for the implementation of the LLRC recommendations I do this that this is being done selectively. So I welcome the engagement by the Human Rights Council to monitor domestic processes expecially regarding accountability. For some time the Sri Lankan Government has been engaging with me and it is true that I have an invitation from them extending for two years now. By mutual agreement we stayed the visit pending the release of the LLRC report and pending the report from my technical mission and I look forward to discussions with the Permanent (Sri Lankan) Mission here for my further visit and hopefully also the visits of eight special rapporteurs who have requested visits.