International community firmly behind Lanka - Keheliya

Rajmi MANATUNGA

COLOMBO: The Government’s success in defeating efforts by certain elements to tarnish the country’s image has proved that Sri Lanka is not isolated in the international community, Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the weekly defence briefing, Rambukwella said the entire international community supported the Government when an attempt was made at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council recently to get a resolution passed against Sri Lanka.

“In recent times, numerous reports of disappearances of Tamil and Muslim civilians were orchestrated by certain elements with a sinister political agenda. Although the police were able to discover the truth within a short period, the stink they created in the international arena lingered till last week when took steps to set the record straight,” he said.

The Minister said the attempt to prove that Sri Lanka was guilty of grave human rights violations warranting inquiry was boosted by some political parties, in addition to the LTTE who distributed leaflets to this effect in New York to coincide with the UN General Assembly.

“However, the Sri Lankan delegation led by Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe was able to explain the real situation in the country to the Members and foil the attempt to get the matter placed on the Council agenda”.

He said this success put an end to the myth that Sri Lanka was isolated within the international community since a large number of countries including India, China, Japan and South Africa supported Sri Lanka’s position against the unreasonable proposal.

“The Mahanama Tillekeratne Commission has found that out of the 1,700 persons reported to have disappeared, 1,400 were at their homes. We are grateful to the international community for supporting us at this critical time,” he added.