Category: Breaking News

UNHRC adopts resolution without a vote to promote accountability, human rights in Sri Lanka

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The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Monday adopted a resolution titled “Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka” (A/HRC/60/L.1/Rev.1) without a vote, a statement issued by the UNHRC said.

The resolution, introduced by a core group of countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, acknowledges recent efforts by Sri Lanka’s government to address longstanding human rights concerns stemming from the country’s decades-long ethnic conflict.

However, it stresses that these commitments must translate into tangible reforms. Among the key recommendations are the exhumation of mass graves to aid investigations into enforced disappearances, the creation of an independent prosecutor’s office to address conflict-era violations, and the repeal or reform of controversial laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Online Safety Act to bring them in line with international standards.

The resolution also calls for an end to the harassment and surveillance of human rights defenders and families of the disappeared. It highlights the continued role of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in supporting accountability and reconciliation efforts through technical assistance and monitoring.

Sri Lanka reiterated its position that domestic processes should drive reconciliation and accountability. The government has expressed concern that external mechanisms undermine national sovereignty and may hinder internal progress.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as part of its ongoing efforts toward healing and justice.

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UN Extends Evidence-Gathering Mandate for Sri Lanka War Crimes -HRW

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The United Nations Human Rights Council on October 6 extended a project to gather evidence of human rights violations and war crimes associated with Sri Lanka’s civil war for at least two more years. The resolution adopted by consensus offers a ray of hope to victims of abuses and their families that they may one day see justice, despite the efforts of successive Sri Lankan governments to block accountability.

Sri Lanka’s civil war between the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the government raged between 1983 and 2009. Both sides committed countless atrocities, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and recruitment of child soldiers. In the final months of the war, which ended in the LTTE’s total defeat, an estimated 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed when the LTTE used the population as human shields and the Sri Lankan army bombarded areas it had declared as “safe zones.”

Successive Sri Lankan governments have refused to acknowledge these crimes while blocking efforts at accountability, and have used state security agencies to intimidate and surveil victim’s families. The Human Rights Council established the UN Sri Lanka Accountability Project in 2021 after the government backtracked on commitments to establish a hybrid justice mechanism to prosecute conflict-related crimes.

The current government of President Dissanayake, who was elected in 2024, has adopted a more moderate tone than some previous administrations, but continues to reject the UN project. While it has pledged to advance post-war “reconciliation” and prosecute some emblematic cases, little progress has been made, reminding victims of previous broken promises.

The Dissanayake administration needs to honor its promises to advance domestic truth-telling and accountability by demonstrating credibility through concrete confidence-building actions. At least 20 mass graves have been discovered in Sri Lanka, but none have yet been successfully investigated. The government should ensure that ongoing excavations at the Chemmani mass grave near Jaffna are successfully completed, including by enabling the provision of equipment for DNA testing.

The government should also order police, security and intelligence agencies to end the surveillance, harassment and intimidation of victim families, human rights defenders and journalists in the north and east. And it should make good on its promises to repeal repressive laws, establish an independent prosecutor, and prosecute emblematic cases.

While justice is denied in Sri Lanka, the UN’s evidence-gathering project remains essential to support potential prosecutions abroad under the principle of universal jurisdiction. The victims and their families are entitled to justice.

Sri Lanka rejects UNHRC resolution to extend OHCHR mandate

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Sri Lanka has rejected the draft resolution 60/L.1/Rev.1 by the United Nations Human Rights Council, which would extend the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted the resolution to extend the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka without a vote on Monday.

“The extension of its mandate will only serve the interests of elements with vested interests seeking to create divisions and polarize the communities in Sri Lanka, and will be counterproductive to the Government’s efforts on promoting unity, reconciliation and human rights,” Sri Lanka said in its statement at the UN.

“We do not agree with coercive international action, and we reject resolution 60/L.1/Rev.1 presented to this Council.”

The full statement is reproduced below:

Statement by Sri Lanka as the country concerned during the consideration of draft resolution HRC. 60/L.1/Rev.1 on Sri Lanka at the 60th Session of Human Rights Council

6th October 2025

Mr. President,
Sri Lanka participated in discussions on this resolution in a spirit of open and constructive engagement, that we have demonstrated throughout in our interactions with this Council.

We appreciate the core group’s engagement on language amendments proposed by Sri Lanka. We however regret that we couldn’t find agreement on certain key concerns for us.

While we thank all delegations for their constructive participation on the draft text, Sri Lanka particularly wishes to thank very sincerely, those countries which made positive suggestions during informal consultations and bilateral meetings.

As Sri Lanka had indicated from the beginning to the core group, our fundamental issue with the text is the reference to resolution 51/1 of 2022 denoting the external evidence gathering mechanism on Sri Lanka within the OHCHR, which, in our view is an unprecedented and ad hoc expansion of the Council ́s mandate.

Participating in the Interactive Dialogue on Sri Lanka on 8th September, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Sri Lanka does not accept the external evidence gathering mechanism set up by the OHCHR, which it has labelled as the `Sri Lanka Accountability Project`, at a time when the Government is continuing to strengthen the domestic institutions based on its genuine commitment to reconciliation and human rights in the interests of our own people.

The ongoing domestic processes include strengthening the independent Offices on Missing Persons and Reparations, and the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, as well as the operationalization of a truth and reconciliation commission, and an independent Public Prosecutor ́s Office.

Sri Lanka, as well as many other countries, have repeatedly questioned the credibility and transparency of how this Project within the OHCHR was set up, its work and the budget allocated to it.

After 4 years of its existence, this Council is yet to see any benefits of this Project for the people of Sri Lanka.

This is clearly evident from the contents of the High Commissioner’s Report as well.

The extension of its mandate will only serve the interests of elements with vested interests seeking to create divisions and polarize the communities in Sri Lanka, and will be counterproductive to the Government’s efforts on promoting unity, reconciliation and human rights.

Mr. President,
We firmly believe that genuine nationally owned processes are best placed to address matters relating to human rights. National processes are rooted in the local context, allow for greater ownership, recognize unique sensitivities, and make implementation of action more efficient and effective.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights who visited Sri Lanka in June this year had the opportunity to experience firsthand the “momentum of change” across all segments of the Sri Lankan society and the “genuine openness of the Government to address issues”.

In his report to this Council too, the High Commissioner highlighted that there is a historic opportunity in Sri Lanka to implement transformative reforms.

As set out by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs in his statement to this Council, within a very short time, the Government has taken a series of tangible and decisive steps on reconciliation and human rights.

Therefore, it is only fair that Sri Lanka be allowed to seize this opportunity to advance the rights of its own people through domestic processes.

For these reasons, we do not agree with coercive international action, and we reject resolution 60/L.1/Rev.1 presented to this Council.

Provincial council election before April next year

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The government intends to hold the provincial council election before April next year.

The SJB and other parties are already in the process of selecting their candidates.

The SJB decided to advertise for applications from aspiring candidates.

Deputy minister Ruwan Senarath said the government had no intention of delaying the PC election.

Legal hurdles against holding the election are presently being looked into, he said.

Election commission chief Saman Sri Ratnayake expressed readiness to hold the election once those issues are rectified, since the funds required have already been allotted.

For nearly 10 years, the governors are controlling the all nine dissolved provinces.

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Land Reforms Commission DG removed

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The Director General of the Land Reforms Commission (LRC), Padmasiri Liyanage, has been relieved of his duties following the exposure of major financial and administrative irregularities before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).

Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation, Susil Ranasinghe, said that Dineka Jayasuriya has been appointed as the Acting Director General.

A recent audit by the National Audit Office revealed that over 49 acres and 35.64 perches of LRC land had been allocated to 396 of its own officers, in plots of 20 perches each, at a token rate of just Rs. 1,000 per perch.

These allocations were made to staff with five years’ continuous service between 2009 and 2023 under this unusually low valuation scheme.

COPE hearings held on 24 July further uncovered that the LRC had transferred 25 acres of state land to a private real estate company at just Rs. 28.72 per perch, amounting to a total sale price of Rs. 101,109 for the entire parcel.

Members of COPE pressured LRC officials to explain these transactions, raising deep concerns over misuse of state assets and weak institutional oversight.

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Fitch confirms Sri Lanka CCC+ sovereign rating

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Fitch Ratings has confirmed Sri Lanka’s CCC+ sovereign rating saying external finances are stable, and growth is resuming despite US tariffs.

“We expect full-year growth at 4.4 percent, with 3.8 percent in 2026 and 3.6 percent in 2027,” the rating agency said.

“US tariffs will be a growth headwind, but the revised reciprocal tariff rate of 20 percent is now in line with peers, reducing risks to exports.

“We see low average inflation, but to rise gradually to 5 percent in 2027, in line with the CBSL’s inflation target.”

Sri Lanka’s macro-economists created a series of currency crises with its 5 percent inflation target, ousted two elected administrations and triggered a sovereign default using inflationary open market operations and buy-sell swaps to inject money, critics have said.

The resumption of open market operations led to a public outcry in the last quarter of 2024 and the current account slipped into deficit as the central bank was unable collect sufficient reserves.

State Assets in Question as Wijerama House Inventory Goes Missing

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The official inventory (assets register) of the Wijerama residence previously occupied by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has not been properly maintained. As a result, officials are reportedly unable to verify the complete list of movable and immovable items belonging to the state that were present at the premises, Ceylon Today reported.

A senior spokesperson from the Presidential Secretariat confirmed that officials had visited the residence with the inventory records. However, difficulties arose as the team that last occupied the house could not clearly identify or account for the items in their possession.
It is also reported that those who had custody of the residence had asked the officials to separate the state-owned property from their personal belongings, but the officials had refused to do so without proper verification.

The spokesperson noted that, according to procedure, state officials must cross-check all items on site against the official inventory before personal belongings are removed.

When contacted, attorney Manoj Gamage, the media spokesperson for former President Rajapaksa, said that officials from the Presidential Secretariat had already identified the state-owned assets within the residence. He added that if there are any items belonging to other state institutions, their ownership can be confirmed and the house will be formally handed over soon after.

Gamage further emphasised that all items listed in the inventory should be duly and officially returned to the state, warning that failure to do so could lead to renewed controversy over the matter.

(Courtesy: Ceylon Today)

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Apparel exports brace for volume decline in 2026

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Local apparel exporters are anticipating a decline in volumes beginning in early 2026, driven by reduced demand from the US due to reciprocal tariffs and heightened competition in the European market.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Joint Apparel Association Forum Sri Lanka (JAAFSL) Secretary General Yohan Lawrence stated that despite the challenging external environment, the apparel export industry expected its performance in 2025 to remain on par with the figures recorded in 2024.

However, he revealed that the industry anticipated a decline in volumes beginning in early 2026 as a consequence of reduced demand stemming from the imposition of US reciprocal tariffs, as well as the comparative advantage gained by certain countries under the applicable reciprocal tariff rates.

“Because of the US reciprocal tariffs, we are expecting an impact on demand. Also, there are other countries that have lower tariff rates than Sri Lanka, so there will be a shifting of business away from Sri Lanka,” he stated.

Lawrence further pointed out that their European business was facing increased competition, as the decline in demand in the US had prompted many competitors to shift their focus to the European market.

“This is not a problem unique to Sri Lanka. With the tariffs, there is a reduction of demand in the US and therefore everyone is looking to sell to Europe,” he stated.

Responding to a query on whether the reduction of Sri Lanka’s applicable reciprocal tariff rate from 44% to 20% in August would positively impact the local apparel export industry, he pointed out that reciprocal tariffs across the region had likewise been reduced to around 20%, with the exception of a few countries such as India.

“The tariffs of most countries were reduced to 20%, so there is no comparative advantage for us,” he stated.

Lawrence further pointed out that the abolition of Simplified Value-Added Tax (SVAT) with effect from 1 October would exacerbate the difficulties faced by the industry, as the policy decision was expected to severely hamper liquidity.

“Previously, if you had to buy a raw material locally, you didn’t have to pay VAT at the time of purchasing; instead, it could be claimed later,” he stated.

He also noted that it was too early to comment on the full impact of this decision, given that the new system had only just come into effect.

China, U.S. Japan show interest in petroleum refinery in Sri Lanka

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Twenty foreign companies, including those from China, the United States (U.S.), and Japan, have expressed interest in investing in the expansion of Sri Lanka’s Sapugaskanda oil refinery, an official said yesterday.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) recently called for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from potential investors to expand the facility. The deadline for submissions closed last Friday.

CPC Chairman D.A. Rajakaruna told Daily Mirror that 20 firms from leading countries in the world had applied.

“There are companies from countries such as the U.S., China, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the list. We are yet to begin evaluation,” he said.

The Sapugaskanda refinery has been a critical asset in Sri Lanka’s energy security for decades, and the expansion plans were considered earlier, followed by feasibility studies in 2010 and 2022, but several challenges delayed progress.

Civil war, the pandemic, economic crises, and political instability prevented any investment.

“With stability improving and regional energy demand growing, now is the most suitable time to re-initiate the project and ensure its long-term success,” he said.

“CPC and the government can manage incremental modifications and maintain profitability,” he said.

This is Sri Lanka’s largest and only petroleum refining business, owned by the government, with a guaranteed local demand and strong potential for expansion into bunkering, jet fuel, lubricants, and chemical markets. The government expects healthy, value-adding proposals that go beyond typical investment models, he said.

The state aims to retain a significant stake, ensuring long-term national benefit while allowing investors to secure competitive advantages. Investors should propose partnership models where the government benefits not just proportionally, but strategically, he said.

Besides, with expansion, Sri Lanka plans to increase its refinery capacity from 50,000 barrels a day to 100,000 barrels a day.

Source:Daily Mirror.lk

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China Exim loan terms: Cabinet approval granted, awaiting COPF sanction

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The $ 500 million loan from China’s Export-Import (Exim) Bank for Section 1 of the Central Expressway Project (CEP-1) is under review by the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), even though the Cabinet has already approved the project.

Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Ajith Abeysekera told The Sunday Morning that the final decision would consider both Cabinet approval and COPF recommendations.

Abeysekera stated: “The entire debt finalisation process is guided by the COPF as a standard procedure. While the Cabinet has already given its approval for the project to proceed, the final decision must reflect both the Cabinet’s considerations and the COPF’s recommendations.”

The $ 500 million loan from China Exim Bank for CEP-1 has become the focus of intense negotiations, as the COPF seeks better terms while the Government moves forward with the project under initial approvals.

Abeysekera’s comment hinted at the position that the Government may consider the proposals of the COPF prior to proceeding to renegotiate the terms.

COPF Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva, speaking to The Sunday Morning, voiced strong reservations about the proposed changes to the interest rate, describing the new structure as unfavourable to Sri Lanka.

He said: “The proposed loan terms have shifted from a fixed interest rate of 2.5% to a floating rate capped at 3.5%. My main concern is the floor for the floating rate, which is currently set at the present rate.”

Dr. de Silva added: “For a floating rate to be fair and mutually beneficial, the range should be more balanced. The acceptable range should be 1.5–3.5% rather than 2.5–3.5%, so that Sri Lanka can benefit if market interest rates fall.”

“We questioned whether the terms had already been finalised and they responded negatively, so we still have time. The Government should consider renegotiating these terms to make it fair.”

He also emphasised: “As the first major facility under the new Public Debt Management Act, the loan must strictly follow Treasury advice. According to this act, only the Treasury can apply for a public debt, so the Treasury must take strong responsibility to negotiate in the best interests of the country.”

He noted that the Treasury itself had provided three options for managing the revised rate structure, highlighting the importance of careful adherence to the law.

On the timing of renegotiations, Abeysekera clarified: “We have not received the COPF’s formal written recommendation yet. We are waiting for that, so I am not in a position to comment yet.”

Road Development Authority Chairman T. Paskaran explained the role of his organisation, stating: “The RDA does not negotiate the terms of the loan agreement. That is the role of the Treasury. We are only concerned with the civil matters related to the road development work, which have already been settled. The loan negotiation aspect of it is the role of the Treasury”

Deputy Minister of Economic Development Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, and Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Prasanna Gunasena were unavailable for comment.