UNHRC sessions:

SL to spell out NE normalization

Disna Mudalige

Plantation Industries Minister and Presidential Nominee for Human Rights Affairs Mahinda Samarasinghe will apprise the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva today on the various steps taken by the government to alleviate the condition of the people in the war affected areas and the measures taken to help rebuild their lives, as the head of Sri Lankan delegation before the world forum.

He is scheduled to address the UNHRC at 6 pm local time. During his speech Minister Samarasinghe will be paying attention to the progress of resettlement in the war affected areas and the development of infrastructure in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The Minister will stress on the government’s commitment to preserve the rights of all ethnicities and its equal treatment of all communities while disclaiming the recent allegations of human rights violations, a Ministry spokesman told the Daily News yesterday.

The spokesman also said that the ministerial delegation was ready to counter any allegation against the country based on the controversial Darusman Report noting that it was revealed that certain western countries were attempting to raise matters regarding the Darusman report during the session. “Certain forces pushed by pro LTTE elements are trying to destroy the political and social stability and the image that the country has gained. The delegation will deal with any such attempt confidently,” he said.

Minister Samarasinghe will brief the member states on the positive developments taking place in the country after the elimination of terrorism.

He will convince the UNHRC of the equal flow of developments to all regions of the island. The Minister will pay special attention to the national action plan on the promotion and protection of Human Rights which is on the verge of being finalized.

The delegation headed by Minister Samarasinghe also includes Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Attorney General Mohan Peiris.

The UNHRC comprises 47 member states.