Friday, 30 August 2013 03:15
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There is a perception in Sri Lanka that the UN Human Rights Council lacks objectivity and fairness in its dealings with the country, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris told visiting UN Envoy on Human Rights Navi Pillay, when she called on him last morning.
“The Minister added that Sri Lanka accepts constructive and justified criticism but resents vicious and baseless positions which are incessantly repeated,” the Ministry said in a media release. The Minister had also reiterated Sri Lanka’s firm resolve to work with the UN system, during the meeting.
According to the MEA, Minister Peiris had expressed the Government’s regrets about the legitimisation of the Panel of Experts report and the Petrie report by including them in the recent report by the High Commissioner submitted to the Human Rights Council.
Prof. Peiris opined that the Panel of Experts report, which was only an internal document borne out not as an intergovernmental process is exclusively for the UN Secretary General, is incurably flawed. Moreover, he said the Petrie report is dishonest because it has a number of redactions.
He also emphasised the fact that many countries have been taken aback by the disproportionate focus on Sri Lanka. “There has been prejudgment and we are disappointed,” the Minister said.
