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UNHRC seeks USD 3.8m to fund Lanka accountability project
View(s):By Chandani Kirinde
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is seeking US$3.8 million (about Rs.1.1 billion) to fund the Sri Lanka accountability project (OSLap) from October 2025 to September 2027.
The project, which operates under the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), is an evidence-gathering mechanism to develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for alleged human rights violations or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka. The Geneva-based accountability project was set up in 2021 under UNHRC resolution, and its mandate was extended for two more years following the adoption of the new resolution on Sri Lanka on October 6.
The mechanism has been rejected by successive Sri Lankan governments since its inception.
The project expenses are to cover costs of travel, new recruitments, contractual services related to local interpretation during missions, satellite image/analysis, etc., a document submitted to the HRC by the UN Budget Office said.
In Sri Lanka’s statement during the consideration of the draft resolution on Monday, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador Himalee Arunatilaka questioned the credibility and transparency of how this project within the OHCHR was set up, its work and the budget allocated to it.
“After four years of its existence, this Council is yet to see any benefits of this project for the people of Sri Lanka,” she said.
Cuba’s UNHRC representative, who spoke in support of Sri Lanka, also questioned the legitimacy of the project and said US$15 million had been allocated to it for its work since 2021, but no tangible results had been seen so far.
The OSLap says its repository now contains more than 101,000 items sourced from more than 530 entities, including contributions from over 300 witnesses and 230 organisations relating to accountability in Sri Lanka.
“Drawing on the information contained in the repository, OSLap has developed profiles of individuals allegedly responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses and possible international crimes and created structural overviews of State and non-State entities involved in the conflict.” OSLap said.
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