A/HRC/40/23 mechanism for reporting and follow-up on recommendations made in the context of the universal periodic review and by the treaty bodies and the special procedures of the Council. 7. The constructive engagement of the Government of Sri Lanka with United Nations human rights mechanisms continued throughout the period under review. Since the Government issued a standing invitation to all special procedures in 2015, Sri Lanka has received a visit from the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (see A/HRC/33/51/Add.2), the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment (see A/HRC/34/54/Add.2), the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers (see A/HRC/35/31/Add.1), the Special Rapporteur on minority issues (see A/HRC/34/53/Add.3), the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (see A/HRC/40/52/Add.3), the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (see A/HRC/39/45/Add.2), the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights (see A/HRC/40/57/Add.2) and the Special Rapporteur on truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence, who made one country visit and four advisory visits.3 8. Since 2015, the situation in Sri Lanka has been examined by the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW/C/LKA/CO/2), the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD/C/LKA/CO/10-17), the Committee against Torture (CAT/C/LKA/CO/5), the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW/C/LKA/CO/8), the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/LKA/CO/5) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC/C/LKA/CO/5-6). In November 2017, the State underwent its third universal periodic review by the Human Rights Council (see A/HRC/37/17 and Council decision 37/114). 9. Noting the efforts made by Sri Lanka to engage with United Nations human rights mechanisms, the High Commissioner welcomes the preparations it has made in view of establishing a national mechanism for reporting and follow-up, which, alongside the National Human Rights Action Plan, could facilitate the implementation of key recommendations made by the said United Nations human rights mechanisms. III. Developments in reconciliation and accountability A. Background 10. While the focus of the present report is the implementation by the Government of Sri Lanka of the recommendations made by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 30/1, the High Commissioner notes the political crisis that erupted in October 2018 and the associated concerns about a possible regression in human rights, transitional justice and the reconciliation agenda, and related mechanisms. 11. On 26 October 2018, President Sirisena removed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe from office and replaced him with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Mr. Wickremesinghe argued that President Sirisena had no constitutional power to dismiss him given that he still enjoyed the confidence of the parliament. Sri Lanka was left in an unprecedented situation, with two individuals claiming to be the legitimate Prime Minister. 12. On 9 November 2018, President Sirisena dissolved the parliament and called parliamentary elections. On 13 November, the Supreme Court suspended the dissolution of the parliament, which reconvened on 14 November 2018 and passed two motions of no confidence against the Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa, amidst disruptions and violence among members of parliament. President Sirisena rejected the motions, citing procedural grounds. On 3 December, an interim order from the Court of Appeal, upheld by the Supreme 3 See OHCHR, “Observations by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, Mr. Pablo de Greiff, on the conclusion of his recent visit to Sri Lanka”, press release. 3