Serious concerns expressed at statements made at the HRC in Geneva

The Government expressed deep concern on the statements made by the delegations of the European Union, France, Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United States of America at the resumed sixth session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on December 11.

These statements followed the remarks made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms Louse Arbour, states a Foreign Ministry media release.

It said Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona called in the relevant Heads of Mission or their Representatives to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs December 12 and 13 to register the Government’s serious concern.

The Foreign Secretary pointed out that a series of measures taken by the Government to address human rights concerns which have begun to take effect and a steady decline of the level of violations has been recorded by independent and highly reliable sources. The views expressed by some of these delegations did not reflect the real situation on the ground.

In the prevailing circumstances what Sri Lanka needed was assistance to improve its own domestic mechanisms to strengthen the inherent tendency to protect human rights and not a temporary outside entity of a judgementative nature.

The current mood in the country would not accommodate such an outside entity which would be highly disruptive.