The Sri Lankan state is still practising “serious discrimination” against Tamils on the island and continues its military occupation of the North-East, Northern Province Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan told the UN Human Rights Council this week.

“The systematic structural genocide is continuing,” said Ms Sasitharan. “The Tamil nation is still under military occupation,” she said, adding that “there is no point in talking about accountability while we are all under military occupation”.

Noting that the Sri Lanka government still continues to practise “serious discrimination”, Ms Sasitharan said “there has been no real change for the Tamil people”. “A real reconciliation could only come through demonstrating serious commitment to resolve the conflict and address the wounds,” she continued.

Drawing the Council’s attention in particular to the plight of Tamil women in the North-East, Ms Sasitharan said:

“I witnessed the situation of those [who] were handed over to the SL military that announced general amnesty through loud speakers on 18 May 2009. I am a living witness to this. I handed over my husband through Catholic Father Francis Joseph on 18th of May 2009.”

Both Ms Sasitharan’s husband, LTTE member Ellilan, and Father Francis Joseph, are currently missing, last seen in Sri Lankan military custody on that day almost 7 years ago.

Parliamentarian Joan Ryan called on the British government to “remain resolute” in seeing through the full implementation of an UN resolution on accountability in Sri Lanka, as she pushed the UK on its engagement with the Sri Lankan government.

In a letter addressed to British Minister Hugo Swire, Ms Ryan said that “a number of issues remain” on the island “despite the positive steps which have been taken over the past year”.

On the issue of accountability for mass atrocities, Ms Ryan said “international participation is vital, as only through a credible truth, accountability and justice mechanism will Sri Lanka be set on the path to genuine reconciliation and a sustainable peace”.

“I believe it is incumbent upon the UK Government, along with its international counterparts, to remain resolute in its commitment to support the full implementation of the UNHRC Resolution on Sri Lanka,” she added.

“It is vital that the government continues to voice – in the strongest possible terms – the need for Sri Lanka to uphold the rights and freedoms of all its citizens and to impress on the Sri Lankan authorities the need to make greater progress towards realising a comprehensive political settlement which addresses the issue of Tamil self-determination.”

Accountability for violations of international humanitarian law must go “hand in hand” with a political solution, said Freedom From Torture in response the UN human rights chiefs remarks on Sri Lanka, made earlier this week.

Ann Hannah, International Advocate and Researcher at Freedom from Torture, said that the UK-based charity welcomed the High Commissioner's statement.

“Our clients, torture survivors from Sri Lanka, have told us time and again, that that they will only have confidence in a justice process where their evidence can be heard by impartial judges, where the safety and security of witness and their families are secure and they are free from harassment and intimidation,” she said.

“This can only be achieved by the Sri Lankan government fulfilling the commitments it agreed last October at the Human Rights Council, including the participation of international judges in the process.”

Sri Lankan police reportedly recovered almost 2kg of heroin in Thondamanaru in Jaffna on Saturday.

The drugs, worth an estimated 12,00,00,000 rupees, was discovered after Valvettithurai police received a tip off.

The European Union (EU) has called on Sri Lanka to “further increase its cooperation” with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights “in view of the full implementation of its commitments” of a UN resolution passed last year.

Speaking at the 31st session of the UN Human Rights Council currently underway in Geneva, the EU also thanked human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al Hussain for information provided by his recent visit to the island.

“We would be interested in your views on how the international community can best support Sri Lanka at this juncture,” added the EU statement.

Britain reiterated its commitment to the full implementation of a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on accountability for mass atrocities committed during the final phases of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, at a statement delivered in Geneva this week.

In a statement at the UN Human Rights Council’s 31st session, the United Kingdom said:

“We remain firmly committed to the full implementation of the resolution adopted in September and stand ready to help Sri Lanka”.

“We encourage the government to continue in its efforts to help bring lasting peace to Sri Lanka, including by establishing credible and consultative reconciliation and accountability mechanism and, by strengthening its engagement with your office.”

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said it was concerned at statements made by the Sri Lankan government, which called into question its commitment to fully implement a UN resolution on accountability.

Speaking at the 31st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva this week, the human rights organisation said “many have rightly put the emphasis on the need for implementation of existing resolutions, if the Council is to have relevance and impact on the ground”.