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<p>We have serious human rights concerns on Sri Lanka, and concerns over lack of progress
on accountability and reconciliation. In a joint statement with the UN Secretary-General
in 2009, the Sri Lankan government committed to addressing accountability issues.
In 2011, the UN Panel of Experts recommended that the Sri Lankan government should
immediately hold ‘an effective domestic accountability process' into alleged violations
and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law by both sides of Sri
Lanka's military conflict. The Panel of Experts also recommended that the UN Secretary-General
should establish an ‘independent international mechanism' to investigate these allegations.</p><p>In
both 2012 and 2013, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) subsequently called upon the
Sri Lankan government to hold a credible domestic accountability process into the
allegations. In the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay's report to
the UNHRC on Sri Lanka in March 2014, the High Commissioner assessed that domestic
accountability processes were ‘limited and piecemeal', and that none ‘had the independence
or credibility required'. As a result of this, the British Government supported the
High Commissioner's call for an international investigation. On 27 March, the UNHRC
passed a resolution which establishes an international investigation, in addition
to calling on the Sri Lankan government to make progress on human rights and accountability.</p><p>On
the situation of the Sikh community in India, I refer the noble Lord to my answer
of 7 April 2014, Official Report Column WA 244.</p>
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