US practising double standards
*Cabinet will decide on LLRC report implementation
*Some recommendations need changes in law
Nadira GUNATILLEKE
Even Israel has decided to quit the UNHRC, but, Sri Lanka has not
taken a decision to leave the UNHRC. Sri Lanka only wishes to point out
the double standards practised by the US on Israel and Sri Lanka at the
UNHRC, Acting Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.
Minister Lakshman
Yapa Abeywardena |
The Cabinet will take a decision on the strategy of implementing the
LLRC report recommendations. The Sri Lanka government has not made any
official decisions or statements on those issues yet, he said.
Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government
Information Department auditorium yesterday, he said that the LLRC was
appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and its report has been
presented to Cabinet and Parliament.
“Sri Lanka needs a home grown solution for the ethnic issue.Some LLRC
recommendations have already been implemented and long term
recommendations need time and cannot be implemented within two or three
months. Recommendations such as decentralising power at grass root level
need changes in laws etc,” he said.
Acting Minister Abeywardena pointed out that a Parliamentary Select
Committee (PSC) has been proposed to hold discussions and solve problems
without creating chaos in the South and without creating problems for
anybody or anywhere.
The PSC is the best and highest place for the TNA to voice their
ideas. Now the TNA has things (voicing ideas) to do and a place to do (PSC).
“Under democracy, various persons express various opinions on various
topics/issues but those are their individual ideas and not the stand of
the Sri Lankan government. The official stand/statement of the Sri
Lankan government is yet to be announced on such issues. “The Jaffna
Urban Council passed a proposal stating that Sri Lanka should not give
into US pressures and implement a home grown solution.
The Sri Lankan government identified the need of solving the ethnic
issue a long time ago, appointed the LLRC, released its report and
implemented all possible recommendations long before the UNHRC sessions
took place in Geneva. This is because of the sincere desire of the
government of Sri Lanka”, he added.
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