UN urges Sri Lanka to help open rights monitoring office in Colombo

United Nations High Commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, told the BBC Sinhala Service that the appointement of the national Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) was not made in accordance with the constitutional requirements.

"The SLHRC was appointed directly by the President. I think the vitality (in the mechanism) in Sri Lanka has considerably diminished in recent years," she told BBC journalist Alix Kroeger.

National HR commission

The UN commissioner added that the SLHRC's international accreditation is also under review.

The SLHRC was appointed directly by the President. I think the vitality (in the mechanism) in Sri Lanka has considerably diminished in recent years Louise Arbour

"So I have very serious concerns about its capacity to be the real strong human rights watchdog in Sri Lanka".

Louise Arbour recalled that she publicly requested the Sri Lankan government to consider allowing her own office to have a presence in Sri Lanka.

International human rights watchdogs have also supported the call which was rejected by the Sri Lanka government.

UN rights office

"(An office in Sri Lanka) would allow us to observe rights violations first hand, analyse and report publicly," Louise Arbour said.

I believe there is a very serious lack of credible voice in Sri Lanka to examine the human rights situation Louise Arbour

When Sri Lanka authorities take action to 'rehabilitate' SLHRC, the Commissioner said, it would become the 'natural national partner' of the UN human rights office in Colombo.

"But for the time being I believe there is a very serious lack of credible voice in Sri Lanka to examine the human rights situation," she added.