A Special Rapporteur Must Be Appointed: MP Sumanthiran in Geneva

04-Oct-2025

.

Many witnesses, and the families of survivors, are elderly and many have died. Many continue to live in fear and without hope. 

Therefore, to secure justice for affected parties, a country-specific Special Rapporteur should be appointed for Sri Lanka, S. M. Sivagnanam, Parliamentary Group Leader of the Tamil National People’s Front, urged at a side event of the UN Human Rights Council.

The 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council began on the 8th. 

Speaking at a side event held in connection with this session, Sivagnanam emphasized the appointment of a Special Rapporteur for Sri Lanka. He said:

Even in times of peace, I want to express my long-standing concern about the continuous militarisation and occupation of areas where Tamils live. People in these areas today are still suffering under the harsh provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act, which suppress human rights.

Funds for the judicial inquiry into the mass grave discovered in Chemmani have been halted by the government. In addition, attacks against witnesses and arrests of journalists continue to be reported.

Since 2013 I have repeatedly urged the establishment of an independent international investigative mechanism. In particular, the most serious crimes committed during the final phase of the war in May 2009 should be subject to independent, transparent inquiries by qualified experts.

Therefore, I urge that a country-specific Special Rapporteur for Sri Lanka be appointed and that the Council’s resolution include this measure. At the same time, strong measures should be imposed against those accused of the most serious human rights violations within the interim justice mechanism.

Affected parties should be given immediate access to justice, compensation, and the ability to participate in investigations freely and safely. Because Tamil areas are fully militarized, victims fear the Sri Lankan government.

Unfortunately many witnesses and family members of survivors are elderly and many have died:  many continue to live in fear and without hope. Therefore immediate steps should be taken to deliver justice in these matters, he said.