Kerry hails ‘landmark’ resolution of consensus 

• US Secretary of State says resolution will help to safeguard reputations, including those of members of the military who conducted themselves professionally

John Kerry 

US Secretary of State John Kerry has hailed what he called”landmark” shared recognition of the critical importance transitional justice in promoting reconciliation and peace for all Sri Lankans, after Colombo agreed to cosponsor the US resolution at the UN Human Rights Council yesterday.  

“It (the resolution) lays out a path to provide truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence that the Sri Lankan people deserve while safeguarding the reputation of those, including within the military, who conducted themselves with honour and professionalism,” he noted.

Secretary Kerry said the US, Sri Lanka and their partners had tabled a resolution on Thursday in Geneva and said Colombo’s decision to join as cosponsor had paved the way to work together to deliver on commitments reflected in the resolution. 

“This resolution marks an important step toward a credible transitional justice process, owned by Sri Lankans and with the support and involvement of the international community,” Secretary Kerry said in a statement released by the State Department yesterday. 

Secretary Kerry said that during the past year, the Sri Lankan people had twice voted to put Sri Lanka on the path to peace and turned their country away from a divisive approach that for too long sapped Sri Lanka’s strength. (DB) 

“This resolution demonstrates our support for Sri Lanka as it takes courageous steps to strengthen its democracy and restore civil liberties for all Sri Lankans, while also addressing the painful experiences of the past to ensure they never recur,” his statement said.(DB)