Sri Lanka’s position strengthened at UN and UNHRC

The Cabinet at its weekly meeting on Wednesday congratulated President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan delegation to UNHRC session headed by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and the Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Pieris and other members of the delegation on the achievements made by them  in improving Sri Lanka’s international relations at these two  meetings held in Geneva and New York recently

 The Cabinet spokesman Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the Cabinet noted the stressfulness of the Sri Lankan delegation led by Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industries  in precluding an attempt by certain western countries to prejudge the national reconciliation process and the conclusions of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), at the 18th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held from 12th to 30th September 2011 in Geneva.

Sri Lankan delegation has efficaciously handled an attempt by Canadian delegation to request an interactive dialogue based on the forthcoming report of the LLRC during the upcoming 19th session of the UNHRC in March 2012.

“Sri Lanka’s position was clearly explained by  Mohan Peiris Senior Advisor to Cabinet on Legal Affairs at an informal Consultative Meeting convened by the Canadian delegation setting out the potential for undue and unwarranted pre-judgement of an established domestic process following an internal conflict.” Minister Samarasinghe explained in a submission to the cabinet.

Cabinet further noted that the delegation has enlightened the representatives of Council Member States of the progress made in post war reconstruction and initiatives to bring about reconciliations in the country. As a result many countries inclusive of Pakistan, Cuba,China, the Russian Federation, Thailand, Chile, Malaysia and Algeria were supportive of the Sri Lanka’s position.

Cabinet also noted that the position of Sri Lanka had been strengthened by the interactions of President at the UN General Assembly in New York with several Heads of States of Government at which the current situation in the country was extensively discussed.