A Legal and Strategic Analysis of A/HRC/60/L.1/Rev.1 — Devolution, Accountability, and International Oversight

By: Wimal Navaratnam, Human Rights Activist, -Briefing on the UN Draft Resolution on Sri Lanka (A/HRC/60/L.1/Rev.1) October 06, 2025

Executive Summary

This resolution adopts a two-track approach: it commends the Government of Sri Lanka’s recent reforms while pressing for deeper, sustained action on critical human rights and accountability issues. It highlights positive steps—free elections, legislative commitments on the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Online Safety Act, anti-corruption measures and renewed UN engagement—alongside urgent calls to honor devolution pledges, resolve enforced disappearances and mass graves, expedite emblematic prosecutions and safeguard civic space. The mandate of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is extended to maintain oversight. (see Preamble, p. 1; paras 1–2, p. 2; paras 5–6, p. 2; para 3, p. 2; para 14, p. 3)

1. Overview and Context

The revised draft resolution was tabled at the sixtieth session of the Human Rights Council (8 Sept–8 Oct 2025) and is co-sponsored by 28 States, including Albania, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Guided by the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other treaties (Preamble, p. 1).
Reaffirms Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity (Preamble, p. 1).
Emphasizes that respecting and guaranteeing human rights is Sri Lanka’s primary responsibility (Preamble, p. 1).

2. Government Commitments and Positive Developments

Area of Development	Specific Action or Commitment	Page	Para
Democratic Processes	Free and transparent presidential (Sept 2024), parliamentary (Nov 2024) and local (May 2025) elections welcomed	1	Preamble
Legislative Reform – PTA	Commitment to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act; a committee appointed to examine its repeal	2	5
Legislative Reform – Online	Commitment to amend the Online Safety Act; committee appointed to draft amendments	2	6
Anti-Corruption Measures	Recognition of steps towards accountability for corruption and economic mismanagement; calls for further investigations and prosecutions of current/former officials	2	3
Acknowledgement of Suffering	Government’s recognition of ethnic conflict pain, pledge to prevent divisive politics, restore rule of law and end discrimination	1	Preamble
Reopened Inquiries	Reopening of investigations into human rights violations and Easter Sunday bombings	3	9
Independent Prosecutor	Commitment to establish an independent public prosecutorial body	3	10
UN Engagement	June 2025 visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; ongoing dialogue with OHCHR and special procedures	2	1–2

3. Key Areas of Concern and Calls for Action

3.1 Accountability for Past Violations and Justice Mechanisms

Enforced disappearances remain unresolved, inflicting prolonged suffering on families; stresses effective functioning of the Office on Missing Persons (p. 2, para 7).
Multiple mass grave sites have been identified; urges proactive international support for exhumations in line with international standards (p. 2, para 8).
Calls for prompt, thorough, impartial investigations and, if warranted, prosecutions of all alleged human rights and serious humanitarian law violations, including long-standing emblematic cases, with full victim participation (p. 3, para 11).
Emphasizes accountability for abuses by all parties, including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (p. 1, Preamble).

3.2 Political and Constitutional Issues

Urges fulfilment of commitments on devolution of political authority as integral to reconciliation (p. 1, Preamble).
Encourages holding and effective operation of provincial council elections, especially in the Northern and Eastern Provinces under the Thirteenth Amendment (p. 1, Preamble).

3.3 Economic Crisis and Governance

Underlines need to address corruption, governance gaps and impunity—root causes of the severe economic crisis (p. 1, Preamble).
Encourages continued anti-corruption action, including investigations and prosecutions of public officials (p. 2, para 3).

3.4 Controversial Legislation and Fundamental Freedoms

Expresses concern over continued detentions under the PTA disproportionately affecting Tamil and Muslim communities; urges a moratorium and expedited repeal (p. 2, para 5).
Acknowledges concerns over the Online Safety Act’s lack of judicial oversight and broad offences; encourages swift amendments to safeguard freedom of expression (p. 2, para 6).
Calls for an enabling environment for civil society, human rights defenders, journalists and victims, free from harassment and reprisals (p. 3, para 12).

3.5 Land Issues and Demilitarization

Stresses the importance of releasing lands still held by the military or other State actors for economic use (p. 3, para 13).
Urges transparent, consultative, impartial and non-discriminatory resolution of land disputes involving archaeological, religious and conservation issues (p. 3, para 13).

4. Extended Mandate and Future Reporting

Decides to extend the OHCHR’s mandate and all tasks requested by HRC resolution 51/1 of 6 Oct 2022 (p. 3, para 14).
Requests a written update at the sixty-third session and a comprehensive progress report at the sixty-sixth session, to be discussed via interactive dialogue (p. 3, para 14).

5. Strategic Implications for Advocacy

Momentum on accountability: the HRC’s emphasis on enforced disappearances, mass graves and emblematic prosecutions creates an opening for targeted legal submissions and civil-society reports (pp. 2–3, paras 7–11).
Leverage legislative review: ongoing PTA repeal and Online Safety Act amendments signal entry points for expert briefs and public campaigns, especially on due-process and expression rights (p. 2, paras 5–6).
Advance devolution agenda: the Council’s call for provincial council elections under the Thirteenth Amendment strengthens our advocacy for constitutional reform and local governance monitoring (p. 1, Preamble).
Spotlight land restitution: military land releases and equitable land-dispute resolution frameworks can be integrated into thematic side-events and policy papers (p. 3, para 13).
Sustain UN engagement: the extended OHCHR mandate through HRC66 provides a clear timeline for periodic reporting—plan submissions for Session 63 and 66 to ensure diaspora voices feature prominently (p. 3, para 14).

6. Recommendations for Diaspora Engagement

Map emblematic cases to resolution mandates
• Develop a legal matrix linking enforced disappearances, mass graves and Easter Sunday bombing investigations to paras 7–9 and 11.
Prepare a consolidated NGO shadow report
• Focus on PTA abuses, Online Safety Act overreach and devolution delays.
• Cite Council’s language verbatim for maximum impact (paras 5–6, Preamble).
Design a thematic digital campaign
• Create visuals around “Reconciliation, Accountability, Human Rights” with embedded page/para callouts.
• Circulate via diaspora networks in advance of HRC63 to build momentum.
Engage UN special procedures
• Submit joint letters to relevant mandate holders referencing paras 2 and 12.
• Request country visits or written statements on civic-space reprisals.
Host a pre-session side event
• Partner with law schools and Tamil diaspora bar associations.
• Focus on “Provincial Councils and Thirteenth Amendment Implementation” (Preamble).

7. Annex: Page / Para Cross-Reference Matrix

Section	Page	Para
Guiding principles and free elections	1	Preamble
Oral update by OHCHR	2	1
High Commissioner’s Sri Lanka visit	2	2
Recognition of anti-corruption measures	2	3
Acknowledgement of ethnic conflict suffering	1	4
PTA repeal commitment and moratorium	2	5
Online Safety Act amendment	2	6
Unresolved enforced disappearances	2	7
Identification of mass grave sites	2	8
Reopened investigations into bombings/violations	3	9
Establishment of independent prosecutorial body	3	10
Investigations and prosecutions of all parties	3	11
Civic space and protection from reprisals	3	12
Release of military-held lands	3	13
OHCHR mandate extension and reporting schedule	3	14

Advocacy Report for Tamil Human Rights Professionals and Leaders

Advocacy Report on Human Rights, Justice, and Reform for Tamils in Sri Lanka

Tailored for Tamil Human Rights Professionals, Political Leaders, and Activists

Grounded in the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Report at the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Introduction

The 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for human rights, accountability, and social justice in Sri Lanka, particularly for the Tamil communities. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ comprehensive report offered both a sobering assessment of the entrenched challenges and a renewed call for transformative change. For Tamil rights professionals, politicians, activists, and civil society, this report-and the surrounding debate-provide a unique window of opportunity and renewed urgency for advocacy and reform.

This advocacy report synthesizes key findings from the official UN analysis, multimedia testimonies, and global human rights watchdogs. It highlights core priorities and offers targeted recommendations to strengthen justice, accountability, and the role of Tamil civil society, focusing on critical areas such as the establishment of specialized judicial mechanisms, repeal of oppressive laws, reform of the security sector, land restitution, decentralization, and economic and social justice for marginalized Tamil groups, including the Malaiyaha Tamils. The report frames these priorities with practical actions and underscores the necessity of robust international support for issues like mass grave exhumations and evidence-based investigation of historical violations.

Summary Table: Key Advocacy Priorities and Recommended Actions

Advocacy Priority	Specific Demands	Recommended Actions/Steps	Stakeholders
Dedicated Judicial Mechanism	Establish a hybrid/international court	Advocate for international involvement in investigations	Sri Lankan government; UN; Civil Society
Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)	Fully repeal and replace with rights-compliant laws	Monitor legislative process, report abuses, demand safeguards	Parliament; Legal NGOs
Security Sector Reform	Demilitarize North-East, end surveillance	Campaign for the withdrawals of army camps, transparency in policing	MOD; Police; Tamil groups
Land Return & Restitution	Release occupied land to rightful owners	Document cases, engage in legal and public advocacy	Govt.; military, local authorities in the North ern and Eastern
Decentralization & Governance	Constitutional reforms for genuine autonomy	Lobby for devolution of powers, engage in dialogue on federalism	Political parties; civic leaders, International community
Economic & Social Justice	Address poverty, health, education gaps	Push for targeted development programs, monitor resource allocation	Ministries; Intl. donors; NGOs
Mass Graves & Evidence	Internationally supervised exhumations, forensic teams	Seek external expertise, coordinate victim/family groups	UN; int'l forensic experts; local families
Role of Tamil Civil Society	Inclusion in policy-making, oversight roles	Build coalitions, train advocates, ensure consultations	Civil society orgs.; UN; Government
Malaiyaha Tamils’ Rights	Protection of labor, cultural, social rights	Demand measures for land, citizenship, welfare, representation	Ministries; trade unions; NGOs

The table above encapsulates the major advocacy priorities emerging from the latest UN report and the surrounding international discourse. Each area is elaborated in the sections below, drawing on diverse web-based evidence, expert analysis, and firsthand testimony.

1. Key Human Rights Concerns: Findings from the 60th UNHRC Session

The Sri Lankan government’s efforts since the formal end of the civil war in 2009 have failed to adequately address systemic human rights abuses, ensure accountability for grave violations, or establish the confidence necessary for reconciliation, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The report at the 60th UNHRC session emphasizes that impunity remains deeply entrenched, and that Tamil and Muslim minorities remain vulnerable to ongoing abuses, surveillance, and marginalization¹.

The following are the most pressing human rights challenges identified:

· Persisting Impunity and Systemic Failures: No meaningful progress on major emblematic cases-such as the killings in Trincomalee, Mutur, the murder of journalists, and the fate of the disappeared-was reported. Investigations are often marred by intimidation and interference².

· Repressive Legal Architecture: The continued use of vaguely defined security laws like the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) enable arbitrary arrest and prolonged detention, disproportionately impacting Tamils and other minorities³.

· Military Occupation and Surveillance: The North and East of Sri Lanka, areas with a Tamil majority, remain heavily militarized, with local populations reporting routine surveillance, interference in civilian affairs, and barriers to land return⁴.

· Suppression of Civil Society and Media: Activists, journalists, and members of Tamil civil society continue to face intimidation, legal harassment, and arbitrary detention, which hinders their ability to advocate for accountability or expose abuses⁵.

The High Commissioner, Volker Türk, stressed that Sri Lanka stands at a critical crossroads: there is an "historic opportunity to break with impunity" and deliver lasting reforms, but this window is fast closing ⁶. The international community and local rights actors are thus challenged to seize this moment or risk another generation haunted by unaddressed injustice.

2. Justice and Accountability Mechanisms

2.1. The UN’s Call for a Dedicated Judicial Mechanism

One of the core recommendations in the UN report is the establishment of a dedicated judicial mechanism-potentially with international participation-to investigate and prosecute past serious violations, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. Past ‘domestic’ initiatives have been consistently undermined: no hybrid or special court has been established despite repeated domestic and international calls, and prosecutions remain rare or non-existent⁷⁸.

Advocacy Demands:

· Swift agreement on the terms for a hybrid court or specialized international investigation, with access to UN technical and forensic expertise;

· Guarantees of witness protection, victim participation, and transparency throughout proceedings;

· Implementation of previous UNHRC Resolution 30/1 regarding transitional justice.

Steps for Advocates:

· Lobby for clear timelines and international technical assistance in any justice initiative;

· Report failures to deliver credible processes to both the UN and major diplomatic partners;

· Highlight family/victim statements in global forums to maintain pressure⁹.

Contextual Analysis:
Civil society has consistently flagged the inability of Sri Lanka’s ordinary courts to protect victims or uphold impartiality in such cases. The push for a hybrid model-including international judges, prosecutors, and forensic experts-stems directly from patterns of state interference, intimidation, and lack of witness security observed in prior trials¹⁰. Although the Sri Lankan government has intermittently promised new domestic initiatives, without robust international involvement these are likely to repeat past failures.

2.2. International Support for Investigations

Another major pillar is international assistance for mass grave exhumations and evidence-based investigations. With ongoing discoveries, such as at Chemmani, Mullaitivu, and other locations, there are well-documented risks that domestic handling could compromise forensic integrity and restrict access for victims’ families and independent monitors¹¹¹².

Recommended Actions for Advocates:

· Insist on the immediate inclusion of international forensic teams;

· Demand full access for victim and family representatives to all mass grave sites;

· Collaborate with global forensic NGOs and UN agencies to ensure best practices are applied.

Analysis:
Adhering to international standards in exhumation and evidence collection is not merely a technical necessity but a precursor to any credible accountability process¹³. The risk of evidence tampering remains acute, particularly as past grave discoveries were subject to obstruction, intimidation, and violence against relatives seeking answers. Mass grave sites are a microcosm of broader impunity: international engagement is crucial for confidence-building.

3. The Repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)

The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) has long served as the backbone of legal repression in Sri Lanka, enabling arbitrary detention, systematic torture, and public fear among Tamils, Muslims, and dissenting voices. The law’s abolition is a top demand from the UN and international human rights authorities¹⁴.

3.1. Developments and Ongoing Concerns

As of September 2025, the Sri Lankan government has reiterated its commitment to fully repeal the PTA and replace it with legislation compliant with human rights norms¹⁵. However, concerns persist regarding:

· The scope, speed, and transparency of the repeal process;

· Potential for new legal instruments to reintroduce similar measures under different names;

· Ongoing abuse under the PTA, with prisoners-many Tamil-still held without charge or due process as of October 2025.

Advocacy Actions:

· Monitor legislative proceedings and expose any attempts to ‘water down’ reforms;

· Demand immediate and unconditional release or fair trial for detainees under the current PTA pending its formal repeal;

· Ensure replacement laws are drafted in consultation with local and international rights experts, and scrutinized for compliance with international norms.

3.2. The UN’s Position

The High Commissioner’s report and accompanying statements are unequivocal: the repeal must be actual, not symbolic, and must be accompanied by added legal safeguards to prevent similar abuses in the future³¹⁰. If reforms are merely cosmetic, not structural, they risk entrenching a climate of fear rather than protecting rights.

4. Security Sector Reform: Demilitarization and Civilian Oversight

The continued militarization of the Northern and Eastern Provinces-including extensive army camp networks, arbitrary checkpoints, and routine intelligence surveillance-remains a major obstacle to peace and prosperity for Tamils. The UN report and supporting global watchdogs have drawn attention to a pattern where military actors not only maintain security but exert control over civil affairs, including land, schools, and local government appointments¹⁶.

Key Recommendations:

· Immediate reduction and withdrawal of military presence from majority-Tamil civilian areas;

· End the military’s involvement in non-security affairs (land administration, business, civilian projects);

· Reinforce independent civilian police and oversight structures, rooted in community participation.

Advocacy Tools:

· Document and publicize ongoing militarization and its impact on daily life;

· Collaborate on international “fact-finding” missions and urge the inclusion of security sector reform metrics in any aid or diplomatic package to Sri Lanka;

· Advocate for independent review boards and community-police liaison bodies.

Detailed Rationale:
Survivors and community groups describe how the military’s omnipresence perpetuates a climate of surveillance, trauma, and intimidation, long after open conflict has ceased. Demilitarization is foundational to restoring dignity, facilitating effective land return, fostering economic development, and enabling free political expression. Security reforms should recognize not only the overt abuses-such as harassment and assault-but also indirect effects: stifled civil society, economic stagnation, and community disempowerment³.

5. Land Return and Restitution

5.1. Context and Current Developments

Land restitution remains a flashpoint issue for Tamils whose homes, farms, temples, and businesses were seized during conflict and the post-war period. The Sri Lankan state, according to multiple UN reports, continues to control large swathes of land under the army, police, or so-called “development” boards-often re-purposed for Sinhalese settlements, luxury tourism, or state industry⁴.

Recent promises by President Wickremesinghe and key ministers to return state-occupied land-including the closure of high-profile camps-have been greeted with both cautious optimism and deep skepticism by Tamil leaders and affected families¹⁷.

5.2. Advocacy Priorities and Steps

· Immediate transparency on remaining land under military or state ‘custody’, including full inventories and regular audit reports;

· Prioritize return to pre-war owners and communities, with fair compensation or alternative housing/land where direct return is not possible;

· End government gazettes and acts aimed at legalizing seizures and development projects that perpetuate dispossession;

· Support legal challenges and public campaigns anchored by personal testimonies and data mapping land seizures.

Analysis:
Land is not just an economic asset but is core to Tamil cultural survival, community rebuilding, and justice after mass displacement. Inadequate or delayed restitution consolidates the demographic and cultural engineering initiated during the war, deepening historical trauma and mistrust.

6. Political Decentralization and Governance Reform

A key strand in the High Commissioner’s findings is the urgent need for decentralized governance to empower minorities and prevent the recurrence of conflict. Although Sri Lanka’s Constitution formally allows for devolved power via Provincial Councils (the 13th Amendment), the real transfer of authority remains stymied by central government control and persistent presidential intervention¹⁸.

Advocacy Directions:

· Full implementation (or strengthening) of Constitutional guarantees for local self-governance in the North and East;

· Structural reforms to protect Council authority over land, policing, and resource allocation;

· Encourage dialogue on deeper power-sharing models (including federalism) and safeguard the political participation of minority voices.

Analytical Commentary:
The concentration of executive and military power, especially since the 20th Amendment, stifles Tamil, Muslim, and other minority aspirations, exacerbates feelings of exclusion, and blocks meaningful local development. Decentralization is not merely a technical reform but a trust-building mechanism, making government more accessible and responsive to historically marginalized constituents¹⁸.

7. The Role of Tamil Civil Society in Shaping Reform

7.1. Civil Society Contributions and Obstacles

Tamil civil society organizations (CSOs)-including survivors’ groups, women’s collectives, legal aid NGOs, and student movements-have been at the forefront of exposing abuse, demanding accountability, and safeguarding community memory. Their contributions are vital for independent evidence gathering, legal challenges, and post-war trauma recovery⁹.

However, these organizations continue to face:

· Legal restrictions and registration obstacles;

· Threats, harassment, and digital surveillance by state actors;

· Limited access to government consultative processes on law, land, welfare, or reconciliation policy.

7.2. Strengthening Civil Society’s Role

Advocacy Recommendations:

· Demand inclusion of CSOs in formal governmental committees on law reform, welfare delivery, and truth-seeking mechanisms;

· Provide capacity-building, digital security, and legal aid for at-risk groups;

· Build broad, intersectional alliances linking Tamil, Muslim, women’s, and rural organizations to amplify marginalized voices.

Analytical Rationale:
A vibrant and protected civil society is indispensable for any credible, durable reform process. Guaranteeing freedom to organize, speak, and represent the interests of victims safeguards against state backsliding and ensures that justice and development are rooted in community needs, not elite consensus⁹.

8. Economic Justice and Social Welfare for Marginalized Tamils

8.1. Structural Disadvantages

Tamils in the North, East, and plantation sectors (notably Malaiyaha Tamils) experience systemic poverty, labor exploitation, and discrimination. The UN report and supporting studies highlight:

· Disproportionate unemployment and underemployment rates compared to national averages;

· Slow or non-existent recovery of war-damaged infrastructure and essential services;

· Chronic underfunding of schools, clinics, and vocational training in predominantly Tamil districts¹⁹.

8.2. The Plight of Malaiyaha Tamils

The Malaiyaha Tamils, descendants of Indian laborers brought to work in Sri Lanka’s tea plantations, remain especially marginalized both socially and economically. Key challenges include:

· Precarious labor conditions and low wages;

· Poor access to land and secure housing rights;

· Lack of effective political representation at national levels;

· Persistent prejudice in education and public discourse²⁰.

8.3. Advocacy Directions

Core Demands:

· Targeted economic recovery and anti-poverty programs for war-affected and plantation districts;

· Priority hiring and development in Tamils’ home regions, monitored by independent bodies;

· Land and citizenship rights for Malaiyaha Tamils, and investment in labor protections and education.

Analytical Context:
Social and economic marginalization compounds political exclusion: youth unemployment, lack of investment, and discrimination fuel migration, despair, and underdevelopment. Strong advocacy for resource reallocation and welfare is necessary to translate legal reforms into tangible improvement in everyday lives¹⁹.

9. International Mechanisms for Evidence and Forensic Investigations

9.1. Importance of International Oversight

A recurring theme in both the High Commissioner’s report and civil society testimony is the need for robust, internationally supervised forensic investigations, especially in the context of mass graves and evidence of enforced disappearances¹¹.

Key Examples:

· Ongoing exhumations at Chemmani, Mannar, and other sites expose the limits of domestic capacity and, at times, willingness to follow international standards;

· Families of the disappeared consistently appeal for third-party oversight, citing threats and interference during previous investigations²¹.

9.2. Advocacy for International Best Practices

Advocacy Recommendations:

· Invite and facilitate international forensic experts and UN agencies to conduct or closely monitor all mass grave exhumations;

· Ensure transparent public reporting and victim/family representation in all processes;

· Push for documentation and preservation of evidence that may be used in future international or hybrid tribunals.

In-Depth Analysis:
Without independent or international oversight, the risk of evidence loss, tampering, or intimidation of witnesses/families remains high. For many families, truth and proper identification is as essential as legal justice-delivering this requires both technical resources and international legitimacy¹².

10. The Broader International and Multimedia Discourse

The UN Multimedia Geneva Newsroom and other global news outlets have played a critical role in broadcasting survivor stories, expert opinions, and real-time updates on reforms and setbacks. This international spotlight:

· Amplifies Tamil civil society voices otherwise silenced in local media;

· Provides a vital record of state actions, government commitments, and failures;

· Offers a platform for family members of the disappeared and the war dead to make their case globally²².

Advocacy Action:
Tamil activists and organizations should proactively use multimedia agencies for international campaigning, testimony submission, and connecting with diasporic and solidarity networks. These platforms are essential in countering narrative manipulation by local authorities, and maintaining global attention during critical legislative or policy junctures.

11. Recommendations for Tamil Human Rights Professionals, Political Leaders, and Activists

Drawing from the UN report and allied data, the following action guide is recommended:

· Build broad-based coalitions (including women, youth, and religious leaders) for increased legitimacy and scope.

· Intensify advocacy at key UN and international diplomatic forums, utilizing multimedia evidence and survivor testimonies as advocacy tools.

· Hold government accountable for every commitment-from land returns to PTA repeal-by monitoring real-world implementation and exposing delays/failures.

· Insist on international benchmarks for all justice and forensic processes.

· Document and report reprisals against civil society and rights defenders without delay.

· Engage diaspora networks for stronger transnational advocacy and legal support.

· Develop independent monitoring structures for economic and social justice programs to ensure transparency and equitable delivery.

· Invest in leadership training and public communication capacity-building for young Tamil rights leaders.

Conclusion

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report to the 60th session of the UNHRC issues a historic challenge: Sri Lanka faces a fork-in-the-road moment between deep reform and entrenched impunity. For Tamils, the stakes-justice for the disappeared, return of ancestral lands, the right to speak and thrive without fear, and equitable development-could not be higher.

This report underscores that political commitments must become tangible rights and life improvements. Advocacy, both local and international, is the pressure lever that can sustain reform, spotlight continued abuses, and nurture the institutions needed for genuine reconciliation.

Continued, coordinated pressure for: a dedicated judicial mechanism; full PTA repeal; demilitarization and land restitution; decentralization; social and economic upliftment for marginalized groups; and internationalized, family-centered forensic investigation is the only path to a just and peaceful future in Sri Lanka. Active, informed, and united Tamil civil society remains the most vital guardian and champion of that future, now and in the years to come.

In solidarity,

Wimal Navaratnam

Human Rights Advocate | ABC Tamil Oli (ECOSOC)

Email: tamilolicanada@gmail.com

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Mandates and Missed Opportunities: UNHRC’s 2025 Resolution on Sri Lanka