E/C.12/LKA/CO/5
United Nations
Economic and Social Council
Distr.: General
4 August 2017
Original: English
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of Sri
Lanka*
1.
The Committee considered the fifth periodic report of Sri Lanka (E/C.12/LKA/5) at
its 25th and 26th meetings (see E/C.12/2017/SR.25 and 26), held on 8 and 9 June 2017 and
adopted the present concluding observations at its 47th meeting, held on 23 June 2017.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee welcomes the periodic report submitted by the State party and the
supplementary information provided in the replies to the list of issues. It regrets that the
latter were not submitted within the deadline required. The Committee also appreciates the
highly constructive, frank and informative dialogue held with the State party’s high-level
interministerial delegation, as well as the additional written information sent by the State
party following the dialogue.
B.
Positive aspects
3.
The Committee welcomes the ratification of:
(a)
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional
Protocol thereto, both in 2016;
(b)
The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance, in 2016;
(c)
The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime, in 2015;
(d)
The International Labour Organization Employment Policy Convention, 1964
(No. 122), in 2016.
4.
The Committee welcomes the adoption of the nineteenth amendment to the
Constitution, which restored the power of the Constitutional Council to recommend
appointments to the senior judiciary and key independent institutions, including the Human
Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.
5.
The Committee welcomes the State party’s co-sponsorship of Human Rights
Council resolution 30/1 on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri
*
Adopted by the Committee at its sixty-first session (29 May-23 June 2017).
GE.17-13302(E)