SRI LANKA, LEGACY CRIMES AND HUMAN RIGHTS

That this House is concerned about the lack of a comprehensive strategy to address accountability for crimes committed during the 27 year civil war between the Sri Lankan Government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam, further to UN Human Rights Council Resolutions 30/1 and 34/1; notes that despite headway on human rights and constitutional reform, serious violations continue there, including harassment of human rights defenders and victims, excessive use of force against protesters, torture, violence against women and girls, hate speeches against minorities, and impunity for violators; further notes with alarm an outbreak of violence against Muslim communities believed to be fuelled by hard-line Buddhist groups in the Kandy area; agrees with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that the Sri Lankan Government needs to address grievances with respect to victim protection in connection with transitional justice processes, militarisation, land occupation and security legislation; urges the Sri Lankan Government to adopt a concrete timeframe in which to implement the Resolutions, ensure new counter-terrorism legislation complies fully with international standards, and undertake meaningful devolution, to benefit all its citizens; and calls on the Government to ensure the Sri Lankan Government honours its international commitments and to offer its assistance when appropriate, further to its recent joint statement at the UN Human Rights Council, as well as to review continuing UK arms sales to Sri Lanka.