Further reforms are necessary “before Sri Lanka can be considered on a path to sustainable democratisation governed by the rule of law,” said the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Monica Pinto during an oral update at the 32nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The rapporteur went stress the need to address the independence of prosecutors and investigators in the accountability process Sri Lanka had internationally committed to, adding
”In this context, considerations around the independence, impartiality and competence of judges, but also prosecutors and investigators, involved in these transition mechanisms must be adequately and swiftly addressed.”
See full statement here.
Speaking on her visit to Sri Lanka, Ms Pinto called on Sri Lanka to “seriously consider” the recommendations made at the end of the visit noting that “Sri Lanka is at a crucial moment in its history.”
On her exit press conference in Sri Lanka earlier this year Ms Pinto said that the current Sri Lankan government continues to keep “much of the war machinery” in place.
Stressing the need for ‘urgent measures’ to address the inability of Sri Lanka’s judicial system to enforce international law, Ms Pinto said,
“This extreme form of dualism is not a sustainable position. Sri Lanka should adopt urgent measures, in accordance with its constitutional process, to give effect to the rights protected in international human rights treaties which have been ratified and which are in force.”
‘War machinery still in place in Sri Lanka’ – UN Special Rapporteur (10 May 2016)
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