UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein says that there is a general acknowledgement in the North that there has been improvement and that, however it still requires more effort and concentrated support.
“Well it’s very clear that the people of the Northern Province are frustrated and I think there is a general acknowledgement that there is improvement that we’ve seen. It still requires more of an effort more of a concentrated support,” he told reporters after arriving in Jaffna today.
The objective behind this visit is to sit with all the senior officials whether at the provincial level or in Colombo and to work through and understand what the thinking is and what we can expect in the future, he said.
“By the end of this trip I will have a much better impression of where we stand.”
Responding to a question regarding the implementation of the resolution adopted at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, he said that it is clear that the Sri Lankan government has endorsed the resolution itself and that it is only natural to require further consideration.
“It’s natural that when looking at the detail that it will require more thought and elucidation,” he said, adding, that this is the “natural process.”
“We seldom see any immediate implementation of a resolution that requires deeper analysis.”
“That’s why I wanted to come to Sri Lanka at a fairly early stage so that we can begin to see where the UN can be of some assistance to the Sri Lankan authorities,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the Governor of the Northern Province H.M.G.S. Palihakkara at his office, Al Hussein said he received a warm reception in Jaffna in the Northern Province and on the back of a constructive meeting he also had with the Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council.
“The discussion very much focused on the challenges the province faces and also the plans and the achievements in connection with this region and the people who aspire to see more information in terms of those detained and those missing as well as the issue of the release of lands.”
“These discussions will continue of course, in the course of today and tomorrow and in Colombo with the highest officials of the state,” he emphasized.
The high commissioner added that he was very satisfied with the discussions held today.
