Expressing concern over the new state of emergency declared in Sri Lanka on August 30 aiming to ensure food security and price controls, amid deepening recession, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner of Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on September 13 urged the member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to pay close attention to developments in Sri Lanka on human rights, reports Colombo Page. Delivering an oral update on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka at the 48th Session of the UNHRC session in Geneva, the High Commissioner noted the Sri Lankan President’s statement in June that the Government is “committed to work with the UN to ensure accountability” and will implement "necessary institutional reforms.”