Recommendations A/HRC/33/51/Add.2 Measures taken/current situation Situation during the visit A/HRC/33/51/Ad d.2 Level of implementation and observations (to be completed by the WGEID) Government – September 2019 As reported previously to the Working Group, the Government of Sri Lanka has taken measures to prevent any surveillance and intimidation of persons, including members of civil society, human rights defenders and journalists. With a view to encouraging the public to make formal complaints to the law enforcement authorities, in respect of any incident of surveillance or harassment, the Ministry of Law and Order, on 16th March 2018, issued a media statement, in all three national languages, notifying the public of the mechanisms that are available to make a complaint regarding any incident of surveillance or harassment. These mechanisms include the Special Investigation Unit and the “Tell IGP” platform of the Sri Lanka Police, and the complaints mechanisms available under the Human Rights Commssion of Sri Lanka and the National Police Commission. The above action highlights the Government’s position on issues of intimidation and surveillance. The Special Rapporteur on the rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association in his “end of mission statement”, said that during a consultation in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka, “presumed intelligence personnel in civilian clothing were observed monitoring participants outside of the meeting place”. The Special Rapporteur further noted that “In another location, military personnel took note of our vehicles’ number plates”. The Government of Sri Lanka takes note of the claim by the Special Rapporteur of his being subject to surveillance. (b) Guarantee the safety of those who met with the Working Group and protect them against any form of Paragraph 52-55 Government – June/July 2019 See response to 77 (a) The Working Group is extremely concerned by information according to which some of the families who met with the Group 13 A/HRC/42/40/Add.1 The GoSL categorically denies that any surveillance of this nature took place. In engaging with UN Special Procedure Mandate Holders, following the standing invitation issued in 2015, the GoSL has facilitated 10 visits by Special Procedure Mandate Holders and in facilitating these visits, we have provided unhindered access to all places visited by the respective Mandate Holders. Considering that the country visit under reference took place within tight security measures adopted, following the imposition of the state of emergency in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks, the GoSL finds the Special Rapporteur’s claim to be unsubstantiated and unwarranted.