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Friday, 17 March 2017 00:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The United States yesterday said it was “pleased” that Sri Lanka had decided to cosponsor the latest resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and applauded the Government’s decision.
“The United States is pleased that Sri Lanka has agreed once again to cosponsor the resolution, and invites likeminded UN members to demonstrate support for reconciliation and peace in Sri Lanka by adding their names to the list of cosponsors. The United States applauds the administration of President Sirisena for its continuing efforts to promote reconciliation,” the statement released by the State Department said.
On Monday, 13 March at the UN Human Rights Council, the United States and other members of the Friends of Sri Lanka Core Group tabled a draft resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka that reflects their enduring commitment to lasting peace and justice for all the people of
Sri Lanka.
“The United States worked in close consultation with the United Kingdom, Montenegro and Macedonia, and in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka, to draft the resolution. We look forward to the adoption of the text, which will support reconciliation and justice in Sri Lanka, help ensure a non-recurrence of conflict and strengthen democratic governance and freedoms for all Sri Lankans,” it added.
The resolution will likely be tabled on 22 March when the ongoing UNHRC sessions will take up Sri Lanka for discussion. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, during the inaugural address to the UNHRC last month, appealed for more time from the international community to implement reconciliation measures pledged during the resolution of September 2015, which was also cosponsored by Sri Lanka.
Delivering Sri Lanka’s national statement before the 47-member UN body on human rights, the Foreign Minister said the Government confronted a dilemma as it faced accusations of doing too much or too little from various actors who refused to acknowledge the gains made in the past two years.
“In the face of roadblocks in the day-to-day world of realpolitik, there may be detours from time to time, but the destination and our resolve to walk the distance remain unchanged,” the Minister vowed.
The Government was still being criticised and accused of “treachery and betrayal” for cosponsoring the UNHRC resolution in October 2015, Minister Samaraweera told the UN.
“As we move forward on this journey, the forces of extremism and regression on both sides of the divide are creating roadblocks for narrow, short-term gain,” the Minister told the Council during an eight-minute speech.
However, Sri Lanka has also come under fire from the UNHRC for its slow progress in dealing with post-war reconciliation and justice.
In a hard-hitting report to the 34th Session of the UN Human Rights Council currently meeting in Geneva, UN Human Rights Chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said the Government had prioritised only truth and reparations aspects of the transitional justice process it committed to in the 2015 resolution.
