Sri Lanka details efforts to probe Easter Attacks at UNHRC

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has informed the United National Human Rights Council that extensive and comprehensive investigations took place over the 2019 Easter Sunday Terror Attacks.

Himalee Subhashini Arunatilaka, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva told the UNHRC on Wednesday (13) that it is regrettable that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has sought to use incorrect and unsubstantiated information from biased sources in their analysis on Easter Sunday terror attacks.

She noted that extensive and comprehensive investigations have been carried out by the Government of Sri Lanka with regard to these attacks including a Presidential Commission of Inquiry, the report of which was submitted to the Parliament. 

She noted that investigations carried out by the Government authorities were assisted by international professional agencies including the Australian Federal Police, the FBI of the United States and INTERPOL. 

"As at April 2023, 79 have been indicted in Easter Sunday terror attacks related matters. On 12 January 2023, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka delivered its judgement on the Fundamental Rights petition that was filed against the President, IGP, Director of State Intelligence Service, Defence Secretary and Chief of National Intelligence, at the time of these attacks," noted her statements to the UN Human Rights Council.  

In addition, the Government has decided to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee to address concerns raised in the public domain as of late and the President has appointed a committee, led by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate the relevant allegations, she noted.

She went on to note that Sri Lanka supports the One China policy and we welcome China’s cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms. 

"We reiterate that interference in the internal affairs of any sovereign country cannot and should not be tolerated," she added.