International Relations Prof. condemns UNESCO statement

Professor of International Relations, Dr. W.M. Karunadasa yesterday deplored and condemned the statement pertaining to Sri Lanka's internal affairs by the UNESCO Director General.

Prof. Karunadasa in a release said: "As a member of the public, who is serving as the Professor of International Relations, University of Colombo, in my personal capacity, I wish to disagree, deplore and condemn the alleged "media quoted" statement pertaining to Sri Lanka's internal affairs by the so-called Director General of the UNESCO.

In my view, it amounted to a blatant and illegitimate attempt by an officials or individual, who seems to have abused his "good office" against the Sri Lankan people and its Government with ulterior motives, perhaps extending the support for separatist terrorists while bringing disrepute to Sri Lankan Government in the international arena.

Moreover, I hold the opinion that any interference in Sri Lankan affairs by the UN affiliated subsidiary bodies including UNESCO or the Human Rights Council are not empowered under UN Resolution of 60/251 of March 15, 2006 to deal with any individual member country of the UN by way of issuing contradictory or derogatory statements in matters connected with internal affairs.

Members of all national and international communities at this juncture may realise the fact that Sri Lanka is struggling hard for nearly three decades in overcoming its own problems of national integration while making genuine efforts to honour and respect international Law of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law."