e-3039 (Foreign affairs)

The promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and fundamental freedoms are an integral part of Canada’s foreign policy and Canada has long advocated for the global protection of freedom of religion or belief, including the rights of faith and belief minorities. In this regard, Canada has engaged directly with the Government of Sri Lanka to express its concern regarding reports of forced cremation of those deceased from COVID-19, a decision that has disproportionately affected the minority Muslim community.

As member of the Core Group responsible for United Nations Human Rights Council resolutions on Sri Lanka, Canada has consistently expressed concern over the targeting of minorities and marginalization of minority groups in the pandemic response. At the Council’s 44^th session (June 2020), the Core Group reiterated that extraordinary measures to tackle COVID-19 should not be used to roll back human rights, including freedom of religion and belief.

At the Council’s 46^th session (February-March 2021), Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted Sri Lanka’s deteriorating human rights situation and Canada’s Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that Sri Lanka’s forced cremation policy would fuel further divisions. At the Session, through Core Group efforts, the Council adopted a new resolution which advances accountability in Sri Lanka by mandating the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ‘to collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence’ of gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law. The continued reporting and the attention of the UNHRC will assist in monitoring ongoing human rights concerns in the country.

Although Sri Lanka has revoked its policy of forced cremation for those deceased from COVID-19, Canada will monitor the implementation of new burial measures to ensure that the rights of religious minorities are respected, consistent with World Health Organization guidelines. Further, Canada will continue to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to uphold its human rights obligations, end impunity and undertake a comprehensive accountability process for all violations and abuses of human rights.