The United States yesterday called on the Government of Sri Lanka to make public a “strategy and timetable” for the implementation of recommendations contained in the report of High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, which pointed to a serious deterioration of the human rights situation in the island. 

During an intervention at the Interactive Dialogue on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC yesterday, the US representative pointed to “shrinking space” for civil society and the independent media in the country. 

“The United States is concerned about the lack of accountability in including high-level appointments of military officials credibly accused of conflict-era abuses,” the representative said. 

The US Government, which re-joined the UNHRC this month after the Trump administration quit the 47-member body in 2018, urged Colombo to ensure the Office of Missing Persons and the Reparations Office can operate without political interference. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged member states of the Human Rights Council to support the resolution on Sri Lanka, co-sponsored by the UK and other members of the core group. Before it quit the Council during the Trump presidency, the US was the main sponsor of the resolutions on Sri Lanka from 2012-2017

India, Pakistan weigh in on SL issues at UNHRC