By The Pulseline News Desk
In a significant step towards aligning Sri Lanka’s corporate sector with international human rights standards, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has launched the country’s first Guidelines and Recommendations on Business and Human Rights, providing businesses with a framework to integrate human rights into their operations and decision-making.
The guidelines are intended to encourage responsible business conduct while helping companies identify, prevent and address adverse human rights impacts linked to their activities.
According to the HRCSL, the initiative was developed by its Thematic Sub-Committee on Business and Human Rights, with the initial concept paper prepared by the Commission’s Research and Monitoring Division.
The guidelines are anchored in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) – the globally recognised framework that outlines the responsibilities of governments and businesses to protect and respect human rights while ensuring access to remedies for affected individuals and communities.
The project received technical support through the European Union-funded Just Business: Promoting the Adoption of Business and Human Rights in Sri Lanka and the Maldives initiative, implemented by the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law together with the Centre for a Smart Future.
Before their publication, the guidelines underwent an extensive consultation process involving representatives from the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders. They were subsequently reviewed by HRCSL’s Business and Human Rights Sub-Committee and its Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Sub-Committee.
Launching the guidelines, HRCSL Chairperson Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya stressed that the initiative is designed to complement, rather than impede, economic development.
“The guidelines are not meant to hinder investment or economic growth but to support a responsible, sustainable business environment attractive to investors who value strong environmental, social and governance standards,” he said.
HRCSL Commissioner Dr. Gehan Gunatilleke noted that the document should also serve as a practical reference for policymakers, regulators and state institutions when formulating laws, regulations and public policy, as well as in legal proceedings involving business-related human rights issues.
The private sector also welcomed the initiative, viewing it as an opportunity to strengthen Sri Lanka’s reputation in increasingly competitive global markets.
Rathika de Silva, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, described the guidelines as a strategic milestone for the country.
For Sri Lanka, strengthening business and human rights standards is also expected to enhance export competitiveness, improve investor confidence and support access to international markets, where compliance with human rights due diligence requirements is becoming an important consideration.
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