The Government has communicated numerous inaccuracies in the UN Human Rights High Commissioner’s (UNHRHC) draft report on Sri Lanka, and expressed hope that they will be taken into account, said Foreign Secretary, Admiral (Rtd) Prof. Jayanath Colombage.
He said the Government hopes its concerns will be incorporated in the report before it is tabled at the 49th regular session from tomorrow, February 28 till April 1.
Expressing disappointment, the Foreign Secretary said the UNHRHC was interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign country. He said, “If there are issues with regard to human rights, we are ready to face them, we are committed to find solutions to these residual issues coming from a long-drawn out battle.”
He said although the Government withdrew from the consensus resolution passed in 2015, it has expressed intent to work with the Human Rights Council in the future. “We have shown our commitment by setting up and facilitating the Office of Missing Persons and several other similar mechanisms to address the outstanding issues,” he said.
The Foreign Secretary also said that Sri Lanka became a victim of terror twice in recent history. “We have not supported terrorism at all,” he said, adding that a victim of terror being taken to task by an international institution is completely unfair.
“This is the dichotomy we are facing right now. We feel that Sri Lanka does not deserve the attention of the UNHRC,” he said.
Columbage also said the team leaving for Geneva, is better prepared this time.
While recognising the reforms brought in by the Government, Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet has called on the international community to continue to explore possible targeted sanctions against credibly alleged Sri Lankan perpetrators of grave human rights violations and abuses.