Former United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Mónica Pinto’s report based on her last year’s mission to Sri Lanka was tabled at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 12 June.

The report, which was tabled by new Rapporteur Diego García-Sayán at the ongoing 35th session of the UNHRC, criticised the Sri Lankan judicial system where García-Sayán stated that although the armed conflict was concluded in 2009, very deep wounds could still be seen in the judicial system.

Quoting the report, he stated that there was a lack of equal representation of minority groups in the prosecution services and police force, adding that “problems related to language are very serious, and have a very serious effect on justice and on the likelihood of obtaining a fair process if you belong to the Tamil community.”