The European Union stated it would work towards promoting “reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka” in a statement delivered to the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

The European Union Statement, delivered by Luxembourg, said:

“The EU looks forward to the High Commissioner's report on Sri Lanka presented at this session. The EU will continue to support efforts towards further progress of the human rights situation as well as to promote reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.”

The Second Deputy Chief Minister of Penang in Malaysia reiterated calls for an international probe into the killing of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians during the final stages of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict.

"It is not justifiable to have own probe against those who were responsible (for the massacres)” said  P Ramasamy, as he arrived in Coimbatore on Sunday. “It should be conducted by an International agency," he told reporters.

His comments came ahead of Sri Lanka being discussed at the opening of the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

Efforts to seize privately owned land in Jaffna for the needs of soldiers have been disrupted by fierce opposition from landowners and locals.

Surveyors were forced to suspend their efforts to measure the area in Koppay, after the landowners denied them access onto their properties, with the support of neighbours and local politicians.

Around 10 acres of land belonging to 28 families has been earmarked for landgrabbing for military purposes including the building of a new army camp.

Speaking at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council, British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire has reiterated their expectance of a credible accountability mechanism and that Sri Lanka will take forward recommendations made in the OHCHR report, which will be published this week.

Highlighting several countries' human rights abuses, Mr Swire concluded his statement with Sri Lanka, saying,

"[To] end on a more positive note - in Sri Lanka, we commend the newly elected government for beginning to address post-conflict accountability and reconciliation.

The United States says it will engage with Sri Lanka in developing a resolution which will help the country achieve a "meaningful and credible" accountability mechanism.

Speaking at the opening day of the 30th UN Human Rights Council session, the US also said it will assist Sri Lanka in addressing important findings of the OHCHR report on its investigation into mass atrocities in Sri Lanka, to be released later this week.

"We eagerly anticipate the release of the report on Sri Lanka," the statement said.