Sri Lanka refuses U.N. human rights investigation

The economic crisis hit country Sri Lanka will not accept any international investigation imposed by the U.N. Human Rights Council into alleged rights abuses during the country’s long civil war, an official informed. Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Sabry said the government is willing to engage with the international community in seeking closure for human rights issues, but that any solution should conform with the country’s Constitution.

In 2015 he co-sponsored a resolution agreeing to a joint investigation of alleged abuses with participation by Commonwealth and other foreign judges, defence lawyers, authorized prosecutors and investigators. The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights is scheduled to publish an update on Sri Lanka’s progress in accountability for the alleged abuses at upcoming Human Rights Council meetings starting Sept. 12 in Geneva, Switzerland. The sessions continue until October 7.