Canada today urged Sri Lanka to end impunity by enacting domestic legislation that criminalizes violations of international law without statutes of limitation.

The Canadian Government welcomed the report on Sri Lanka by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and acknowledged the importance of Sri Lanka’s co-sponsorship of Resolution 40/1.

“We note the steps taken by Sri Lanka in establishing the Office of Missing Persons, the release of some civilian lands, the release of some prisoners held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and efforts to establish an Office of Reparations. These initial steps, however, are insufficient as we mark the tenth anniversary of the end of the armed conflict,” the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in Geneva said.

The Mission acknowledged the increased level of frustration of the victims by the lack of substantive progress in advancing accountability and compounded by inconsistent messaging from Sri Lanka.

Canada noted that a process of accountability that has the trust and confidence of the victims is critical to peace and reconciliation.

Canada called on Sri Lanka to establish a judicial mechanism with special counsel to prosecute violations of international law with the involvement of international investigators, prosecutors and judges.

Canada noted that justice demands that resolution 30/1 be implemented in its entirety.

Canada urged the Government of Sri Lanka to set a time-bound strategy for full implementation of the commitments it has made to its own people. Canada says it stands ready to support Sri Lanka in its efforts to meet these commitments under the renewed resolution.