United Nations General Assembly A/HRC/34/53/Add.3 Distr.: General 31 January 2017 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirty-fourth session 27 February-24 March 2017 Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues on her mission to Sri Lanka Note by the Secretariat The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues on her mission to Sri Lanka from 10 to 20 October 2016. In her report, the Special Rapporteur commends the National Unity Government established in January 2015 for many of its reform initiatives and positive practices to promote good governance and national reconciliation. To achieve peaceful coexistence after the long and devastating civil war, a comprehensive, well-planned and wellcoordinated truth, reconciliation, healing and accountability process must take place. While such goals cannot be accomplished overnight, the Special Rapporteur notes the mounting frustrations about the pace of progress. It is important for the Government to seize the momentum and put in place some immediate and concrete measures to clearly demonstrate its political will and commitment to better protect the country’s minorities. Particular attention should be paid to effective participation of minorities in decision-making, equality in access to economic and social opportunities and the constructive development of practices and institutional arrangements to accommodate ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity within society. For the reconciliation and the good governance initiatives to succeed, there is also a need for all Sri Lankans to come together and regenerate trust at all levels of society. While addressing the past and ensuring accountability, a conscious effort to strengthen the Sri Lankan identity and the notion of nationhood is critically needed to foster a stronger sense of belonging and togetherness on the part of all Sri Lankans. GE.17-01414(E) 