The co-sponsors of Sri Lanka's UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Wednesday expressed disappointment that the "pace of progress has been slow", adding that "much still remains to be done to implement Sri Lanka’s commitments". 

The United States, UK, Macedonia and Montenegro also highlighted ongoing reports of human rights abuses by Sri Lankan security personnel. 

The UK's Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mark Field said Sri Lanka's "pace of progress has been disappointingly slow and that much remains to be done" in a dedicated Commons debate on the issue yesterday. 

Sri Lanka's Joint Opposition today handed over a no-condidence motion against the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Dinesh Gunawardane of the Joint Opposition told reporters that several government MPs had also signed the motion. 

“We expect the Speaker to give maximum priority to this motion as per Parliamentary tradition,” he added. 

The former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa did not sign the motion, reported the Daily Mirror. 

Read more here. 

The Sri Lankan President was met by protestors in Jaffna on Monday where he had travelled for the inauguration of a new school building.

A Sri Lankan army officer was remanded today for allegedly spreading hate speech via the social media platform, Facebook. 

The soldier was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on March 17. 

His bail application was rejected by Colombo chief magistrate, Lal Ranasinghe Bandara, Colombo Page reported.

Two Special Task Force intelligence officers accused of murdering a Tamil man in Jaffna last year have had their remand extended by the Jaffna magistrate.

The case of the Ariyalai murder of 24-year-old Don Bosco Rikman was taken up at Jaffna magistrates court on Tuesday.

The two officers’ remand was extended until April 3rd citing ongoing investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department.

Requests by the STF to release a three-wheeler and motorcycle held in connection with the murder were also rejected by the judge.

SLFP minister are to inform the president of their support for a no-confidence motion against the current prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

“We are signing a separate letter to be handed over to the President. We will inform him that we will support the motion unless the Prime Minister is removed before that,” the SLFP minister Dayasiri Jayasekara told Daily Mirror. 

The Joint Opposition this month began collecting signatures in support of the motion. 

Human Rights Watch called on the UN Human Rights Council to ensure Sri Lanka ‘stops playing games’ and delivers on its commitments including accountability involving international judges, prosecutors and investigators.

In a statement ahead of Sri Lanka’s interim review at the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Geneva director of Human rights watch, Jon Fisher, said,

Sri Lanka's ambassador to Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha today asserted that the government would ensure progress on key areas outlined in the UPR as it was adopted by the Council on Monday. 

Highlighting the attacks against Muslims in Kandy earlier this month, Mr Aryasinha said those responsible would be held to account. 

"We are determined to take action against all perpetrators of these incidents in accordance with the due process of the law. Victim compensation processes have already commenced; and arrests have been made as well," he told the Council. 

Read full statement here. Extract reproduced below: 

The United States today expressed concern at ongoing human rights violations and abuses by Sri Lankan security forces, as well as the targetting of Muslims earlier this month.

"Although we are pleased with the Government’s support for these recommendations, we are concerned by ongoing reports of human rights violations and abuses by members of the security services, and recent attacks targeting members of religious minority communities," the US mission to Geneva said in a statement at the UN Human Rights Council as the Sri Lanka's 3rd review cycle was adopted.

"We urge the government to hold accountable all those responsible for human rights abuses and violations and to protect religious minorities and their places of worship.  We further urge the government to take additional steps to fully implement the commitments it made in HRC resolution 30/1 and reaffirmed in HRC resolution 34/1."