The United Kingdom, along with the other members of the core-group, will move a fresh resolution to be adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at its upcoming session in September with the primary objective of pursuing the Sri Lankan Accountability Project and other remaining matters, Daily Mirror learns.
Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, and North Macedonia are the other members of the core group.
The UNHRC adopted a resolution in October, last year extending the mandate of Resolution 51/1 on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka despite Sri Lanka’s rejection of it under the newly elected National People’s Power (NPP) government.
Sri Lanka rejected HRC resolution 51/1 and the preceding HRC resolution 46/1 under which an external evidence gathering mechanism has been established within the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
General Secretary of the Ilankai Tamil Arachu Kadchchi (ITAK) M.A. Sumanthiran told Daily Mirror that he learnt from UK officials in London in recent times that such a resolution would be moved in September, this year for the UNHRC to press ahead with its Sri Lanka project.
“The current resolution will lapse in September. The new resolution will be brought in by the UK and the core group of countries to go ahead with what is remaining to be done,” he said.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk concluded a four-day official visit to Sri Lanka from June 23 to 26, 2025, the first by a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since 2016. During his visit, High Commissioner Türk engaged in discussions with high-level government officials, including the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.
He is expected to submit a report on Sri Lanka next week.
The UNHRC has repeatedly called for action on accountability and human rights issues related to the wartime.
The government has initiated legal action against some former military officers including former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenna over past violations. The 60th session of the UNHRC is scheduled to take place from September 8 to October 3, 2025.