A/HRC/8/46 Page 6 has been examined by a committee of experts appointed by the Minister of Human Rights to assess the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. 18. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) was established under the Ceasefire Agreement, which was terminated by the Government for the reason that it was continuously being breached by the LTTE. With the termination of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) the SLMM automatically ceased to exist. Conversely, the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) was the outcome of an attempt of the Government to synthesize the domestic inquiry process with an international observer group with a defined mandate with respect to specific cases in order to ensure the observance of international norms and standards. It would be evident therefore that the mandate of these two mechanisms were specific and not of a general nature to monitor human rights. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 19. During the ensuing interactive dialogue, statements were made by 56 delegations. A number of delegations praised Sri Lanka for the quality of its national report, which identified national priorities, capacity-building and technical assistance needs. The open and positive approach taken in the preparation of the review was also commended. A number of delegations also highlighted Sri Lanka’s meaningful contributions to the Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka’s ratification of most core international human rights instruments, its cooperation with United Nations mechanisms; its democratic standing; the well developed institutional framework to promote human rights; inter alia the establishment of the Permanent Inter- Ministerial Standing Committee on Human Rights and of the NHRC; the adoption of the NAP. Delegations further stressed Sri Lanka’s valuable commitments and efforts made despite a number of long lasting challenges; including prolonged armed conflict and natural disasters. Remarkable achievements were also noted in the advancement of economic, social and cultural rights, including women’s health and survival. 20. Ukraine encouraged the cooperation with international mechanisms in order to implement human rights at all levels of society and to participate in the core human rights treaties as well as special procedures of the Human Rights Council. It welcomed the establishment in 2006 of the NHRC, but expressed concern about the lack of implementation of the Commission’s recommendations. It recommended that Sri Lanka strengthen the NHRC with the purpose of implementing all its recommendations. 21. Canada noted that the human rights situation in Sri Lanka continues to deteriorate and that the IIGEP has pointed to the fact that a year-long history of its recommendations remains unaddressed. It recommended that Sri Lanka (a) provide for the independence of national human rights protection institutions, including through implementation of the 17th Amendment; (b) take measures to ensure access to humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations and to protect civilians, including human rights defenders and humanitarian workers; (c) continue to take steps to ensure that those organizations, with which it is affiliated, like the TMVP, stop recruiting child soldiers and release them, and (d) investigate all allegations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international standards in order to combat impunity for human rights violations. Canada specifically referred to the public hearings of the Commission of Inquiry which implicated members of the Government and security forces in the murder of workers of Action Contre le Faim and of five boys in Trincomalee. 22. Bahrain noted Sri Lanka’s continuous efforts to eliminate poverty and strengthen the right of health and education. It requested additional information on the human rights concepts included in the school curricula and their impact on the quality of teaching.