India instrumental in toning down resolution against Sri Lanka

(TOI) NEW DELHI: India worked behind the scenes in toning down the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and succeeded in pushing two crucial amendments to the draft to make it “non-intrusive”.

Sources here said India persuaded the US, sponsor of the resolution, to remove certain references which were “intrusive” in the functioning of a sovereign country like Sri Lanka. New Delhi also insisted that the resolution contributed to the political reconciliation process in the island nation.

At India’s instance, a paragraph that said ‘recalling Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 on institution building of the Human Rights Council’ was added to the resolution, the sources said.

The other change was in reference to the wording of the last para of the resolution which speaks of providing advice and technical assistance on implementing the steps suggested in the resolution.

The amendment makes it clear that the advice and technical assistance would be provided “in consultation with and with the concurrence of” the government of Sri Lanka that made the resolution “non-intrusive”, they said.