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<p>We continually assess the progress made by the Government of Sri Lanka on the implementation
of UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions 30/1, 34/1 and 40/1. In March when
the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued its latest Annual Report,
we agreed that progress had been made. We welcomed the restoration of important democratic
checks and balances, improvements in freedom of expression and assembly, the return
of some military-held civilian land, the establishment of an Office of Missing Persons
and the ratification of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances.</p><p>However,
we want to see further and faster progress. We continue to urge the Government to
establish the full range of transitional justice mechanisms envisaged in the UNHRC
resolutions, to deliver meaningful devolution through constitutional reform, replace
the Prevention of Terrorism Act with human rights compliant legislation, and return
all remaining military-held private land. During his recent visit to Sri Lanka on
2-3 October, Lord Ahmad encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to deliver fully on
its commitments made to the UNHRC and to develop a comprehensive and time-bound implementation
strategy.</p><p></p>
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