The lands of some Pilavu villagers who had been protesting for all of February were released on Wednesday.

Although the release was cause for jubilant scenes for some, there was also widespread anger as only sections of the lands were returned, with some protestors, including permit holders, being told they couldn't access their lands.

The remaining lands were released later in the evening.

The current legal framework in Sri Lanka perpetuates the risk of torture, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture told the human rights council in an interactive dialogue on Thursday.

Presenting the findings of his predecessor Juan Mendez, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of punishment, Nils Melzer said:

The measures taken by Sri Lanka since October 2015 have been inadequate to ensure real progress a report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released on Friday in Geneva concluded, reiterating the need for a hybrid court with international judges and lawyers. 

The deputy minister of foreign affairs Harsha De Silva this week sought to allay ongoing rumours that Sri Lanka had agreed to a number of reforms in order to regain GSP+ by reiterating that the country was "under no obligation to any foreign body". 

The Labour party's shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry on Thursday called on the UK government to take a “strong stance at the UNHRC” and “to take further steps to hold Sri Lanka to account by pushing for a follow-up to Resolution 30/1” at the UN Human Rights Council this month. 

The Tamil National Alliance this week highlighted the Sri Lanka's lack of progess on key commitments made to the UN Human Rights Council and called on the government to ensure its promises were kept. 

Speaking in journalists in Colombo Wednesday, the TNA spokesperson, MA Sumanthiran said his party was willing to give the government more time however only if this included a timetable and a process of monitoring to ensure adherence. 

The Sri Lankan Navy saw the passing out of its first ever batch of Marine Corps this week, following training from the United States military, at a navy base on land taken from Tamils.

The Un Human Rights Council catalysed progress in Sri Lanka the US said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the council’s 34th regular session in Geneva, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, Erin Barclay said:

“When the council functions properly, it has the ability to remind states of their commitments and obligations. It can hold countries accountable for the same.”

“When the council works as it should its successes are victories for human rights.”

Sri Lanka's President Sirisena "made a commitment to the UN on behalf of his country and he must now deliver it", no matter the domestic political situation, British MP, James Berry said during a parliamentary debate.

Sri Lanka's 69-year-long experiment in nation-building is a failed one, the country's foreign affairs minister, Mangala Samaraweera, told the UN Human Rights Council today.

The report on Sri Lanka by UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Rita Izsák-Ndiaye called for the release of the remaining 6,124 acres of land currently under military occupation in the North as "matter of priority". 

The Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) denied the current head of department, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, stated that the sexual exploitation of Tamil women by the army would jeopardise the reconciliation process. 

Displaced Tamils in Mannar held a demonstration on Monday to show their support for the people of Keppapilavu who are protesting for the return of their land. 

The Sri Lankan president has instructed the army to return lands in Kepapilavu, Puthukkudiyiruppu and Kilinohchi back to the Tamil people, the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R Sampanthan said on Monday citing a meeting he had with the president.