Sri Lanka ready to respond to US resolution

Wednesday, 30 January 2013 01:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Xinhua: The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday said it was prepared to respond to a United States resolution expected to be submitted at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions scheduled to begin in Geneva next month.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama said that the government has done a lot to address post war issues in the country and has also briefed the international community on its progress.

The United States on Monday warned that a procedural resolution on Sri Lanka will be submitted before the Council in Geneva.

Three visiting U.S. officials consisting of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State James Moore, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Vikram Singh, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jane Zimmerman told reporters in Colombo that a resolution was aimed at pushing Sri Lanka to address human rights concerns relating to the final stages of the 30 year conflict against Tamil Tiger rebels.

“The U.S. is entitled to its views but Sri Lanka is ready to respond to the resolution. We have made substantial progress on the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report and we have briefed the diplomatic community and media about this,” Amunugama told Xinhua.

The U.S. delegation however stated that although there was progress on the implementation of the LLRC report there was more that needed to be done in terms of accountability.

“Certainly we have seen progress in infrastructure development, demining, rehabilitation and the release of former combatants. However there are still families who feel that their loved ones are being held somewhere. There is a desire for accountability with regards to extra judicial killings. Therefore there is a need for accelerated implementation,” the delegation said.

The U.S. delegation further said that they had discussed the resolution with the Sri Lankan government.