In a reply to Ranil: GL ATTACKS US RESOLUTION AGAIN

Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

There is no change in the government’s policy of rejecting the US sponsored resolution in Geneva against Sri Lanka as it indicated selective treatment -- while the report referenced in the resolution is entirely ‘outside of inter-governmental process’, External Affair Minister Prof. G L Peiris said.

The External Affairs Minister made this observation in response to a special statement made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament under Standing Order 23 (2) yesterday. Minister Peiris further stated that the statement by the Opposition Leader has been based on another made by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the US, Jaliya Wickramasuriya that said “we agree that while much has been accomplished since 2009, more needs to be done”.

He added that it is based on the resolution that stated “welcoming and acknowledging the progress made by the government of Sri Lanka in rebuilding infrastructure, demining, resettling the majority of internally displaced persons, and noting nonetheless that considerable work lies ahead in the areas of justice, reconciliation and resumption of livelihoods and stressing the importance of the full participation of local populations, including representatives of civil society and minorities in these efforts”.

The minister said that it is agreed that while the LLRC includes 235 recommendations a considerable amount of it has been implemented within a short period and there is more to accomplish. He added that some recommendations are about the term while others like land issues, language, cultural matters etc are of long term.

Prof Peiris said the resolution calls for an oral update on Sri Lanka in September and a comprehensive report in 2014. This requirement will figure at the Human Rights Council once every six months.

He added that the resolution attempts to show that Sri Lanka is one of the most trouble-prone countries in the world which cannot be accepted since the country has returned to peace after 30 years of violence. This is a selective treatment.

The External Affairs Minister further stated that another reason for not accepting this resolution fundamentally is that the resolution seeks to incorporate the report of the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights. He added that the High Commissioner called for an international investigation on this country not today or last week but one week after the hostilities ended in 2009.

He questioned on what evidence did she call for the international investigation. He added she had repeatedly called for such investigation.

The report that incorporated the resolution or the Darusman Report has been rejected by the African group of countries and the organization of Islamic countries.

The report has been prepared in a bizarre manner. The identity of the persons that gave evidence would not be divulged for 20 years. Under cover of anonymity any body can say anything. However, the preparation of the report was entirely outside of the intergovernmental process.

The minister said that the government cannot accept the resolution and there is no change in the government’s policy as well.

He added that however this resolution has been the most powerful catalyst decision as it divided the Human Rights Commission, the world and neighbouring countries.

He added that this has spilled over into cricket and cinema as well. It does not support the constructive and delicate way in which Sri Lanka has embarked.