Diplomatic triumph for SL say ministers

Rasika Somarathna, Priyanka Kurugala and Ridma Dissanayake

* ‘Resolution failed to acknowledge country’s victories’

* ‘Some voted in favour due to extreme pressure from West’

Senior ministers yesterday hailed the support Sri Lanka received from many quarters in Geneva as a diplomatic success as this had materialised despite reports of intense pressure being brought upon many voting members by some powerful countries. The resolution was passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Thursday with 24 members out of 47 voting in favour.

The ministers said that if India had voted against or even abstained from voting, the outcome of the final result may have been different.

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunewardene said that the decision to vote in favour by some may have been due to political agendas far removed from the subject matter of the resolution.

He also questioned whether the sponsors of the resolution had considered Sri Lanka’s multi - faceted progress in the post – conflict era when coming up with it.

He noted that the resolution had failed to acknowledge the country’s victories in development, restoration of democracy, promotion and protection of human rights etc which did not exist when the LTTE was unleashing its terror.

Gunewardene said that with 15 countries voting with Sri Lanka, and eight abstaining, the final result was that 23 countries, out of a total of 47 members of the Council, did not support the resolution, while 24 supported it.

“The margin was as narrow. India’s vote may have tilted the balance,” he said.

The minister said that the government in the future would take steps to further strengthen its friendly ties with the international community and both short and long term plans would be implemented towards this end.

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that despite the Sri Lankan delegation to Geneva making a valiant bid even at the last moment to change the minds of the uncommitted delegates to consider Sri Lanka’s case in a favourable light, some had apparently voted in favour due to extreme pressure brought upon them by the US and some Western countries using their economic clout.

He said that the decision taken by some countries to vote against the resolution despite these pressure was highly appreciated.

The minister said that there were reports that if India had at least abstained from voting, some countries who voted in favour too may have followed suit.

Ranawaka said that Sri Lanka should look to further strengthen its international relations in the future.

Deputy Economic Development Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene said that the recent voting as regard the US – sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka may have been determined not by the merits of a particular issue but by strategic alliances and domestic political issues in other countries which have nothing to do with the subject matter.

He said that despite a systematic and organised campaign aimed at distorting and misinforming the Council about the Sri Lankan situation, many international partners had stood by the country.

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa said that Sri Lanka’s narrow defeat in Geneva may please the LTTE proxies but not the people of the country.

He said that such efforts would only provide oxygen to the militarily vanquished LTTE.