Delivering the Opening Statement at the 28th Session of UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, the High Commissioner has said the Member States were due to consider his report on the implementation of UNHRC resolution 25/1 on accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, including the findings of the comprehensive investigation mandated by the Council at this session.

The High Commissioner has said he will present the report on the UN mandated investigation into the alleged human rights violations by Sri Lanka during the war at the 30th Session of UNHRC in September.

“After serious reflection, and acting upon the suggestion of the investigation's group of experts, I recommended that the presentation of this report be deferred until the 30th session of the Human Rights Council in September,” Zeid has said.

“This was based on my assessment of the changing context in Sri Lanka, the broad signals of cooperation I have received from the Government, and the possibility that new information will become available for the report,” he has said.

Zeid has told the Council that the Sri Lankan Government has agreed to invite the Special Rapporteur on Truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence, and the Working Group on enforced and involuntary disappearances, as well as himself, to visit Sri Lanka before the September session.

During this period, OHCHR staff also plan to engage on the ground with all stakeholders to advance transitional justice issues, he has noted.