Internationalising issue internal to SL will not help reconciliation process: GL

“Internationalising an issue which is internal to Sri Lanka by any initiative through the UNHRC at present would not help but only harm the reconciliation process launched by the Government,” said Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris in Colombo yesterday.

“There is no justification for this form of intervention,” he further said. “The people of this country do not want to decisions imposed on them.”

Expressing his views regarding the next step of the Government subsequent to the US resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, the Minister said: “We will engage with the UN and its organs in the most proactive manner as we have consistently done, there is nothing new to do.”

The Minster emphasised that “we do not need unwarranted pressure that will compromise successful implementation of recommendations”.  “As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, our policy in respect of all matters will continue to be guided by the vital interests and wellbeing of the people of our country,” Prof. Peiris said.

Many countries which voted with Sri Lanka were acutely conscious of the danger of setting a precedent which enables ad hoc intervention by powerful countries in the internal affairs of other nations. This is a highly selective and arbitrary process not governed by objective norms or criteria of any kind, the Minister said.

One single incident will not change the Government’s foreign policy, the Minister of External Affairs said, with reference to diplomatic relations with the US and India. He said Sri Lanka has strong relationship with these two countries and hope to further strength the ties with them. The Minister dismissed speculation that economic sanctions could be imposed on Sri Lanka if the US resolution on Sri Lanka is passed at the UNHRC. He said there should be no such fears in Sri Lanka as the UNHRC has no powers of implementing economic sanctions.