Big victory for Sri Lanka at UNHRC
Rasika SOMARATHNA
The Sri Lankan resolution, expanded from 17 to 29 paragraphs titled
‘Assistance to Sri Lanka in the promotion and protection of human
rights’ was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council by an absolute
majority yesterday. It was a strong endorsement of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa’s Government’s efforts at routing terrorism and the successful
handling of the world’s biggest hostage crisis, Minister Mahinda
Samarasinghe who led the Lankan delegation to Geneva, said yesterday.
Sri Lanka’s resolution, which was subjected to a vote, was adopted by
the 47-member Council with 29 voting in favour and 12 against. Six other
nations abstained from voting.
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Minister
Mahinda Samarasinghe |
Minister Samarasinghe who spoke over the phone from Geneva said “This
is a clear message that the international community is behind Sri Lanka
in its endeavour to rebuild the nation to provide our citizens with
equal opportunities.”
While hailing the verdict as a great victory for the country which
the President was looking forward to, Minister Samarasinghe said that
the international community also on the occasion and endorsed Sri
Lanka’s open and transparent stance and its willingness to engage in
dialogue to resolve allegations of human rights abuse.
Also according to news reaching Daily News form Geneva, the UNHRC
President too had commenced the Sri Lankan delegation for its
willingness and co-operation in facing deliberations in a transparent
and open manner.
Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative at the UN in Geneva, Dr. Dayan
Jayatillake responding to the outcome said it was “the best synthesis of
the sentiments of the Human Rights Council”.
Sri Lanka, which had earlier drawn a 17-point resolution presented an
amended resolution at 7.15 p.m. Geneva time incorporating some of the
elements of the Swiss Resolution.
When the Council re-convened, Germany had, on behalf of the European
Union, recommended a further nine amendments. However, this move was
shot down by Cuba on the basis of technical and procedural
irregularities. The Council had then decided to vote on the expanded
resolution submitted by Sri Lanka. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha
Bogollagama, speaking on the outcome of the Session said that the
efforts in Geneva constituted a major achievement in terms of Sri
Lanka’s international relations in the immediate aftermath of
successfully countering LTTE terrorism.
“The final result, 29 countries voting for us and only 12 opposing,
shows that Sri Lanka stands on top in terms of wide support from a
states across the globe. This is again a reflection of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa’s astute leadership and the wide engagement of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in seeking the support of the international community,”
he said.
It is reported that Sri Lanka’s expanded resolution was widely
accepted by member-countries with the presentation of the Lankan
delegation even convincing its foes to support the countries cause at
the last moment.
The second and third plenary meetings of the United Nations Human
Rights Council 11th Special session on the human right situation of Sri
Lanka was conducted yesterday with the request of 17 of the 47 members
of the UNHRC.
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