SL ready to face UN rights body-Minister

18 January 2014 02:15 pm - 18 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka on Saturday said it was ready to face another resolution against the country in the UN rights body over alleged war crimes during decades long civil war against the rebel Tamil Tigers.

“We have a big challenge in March. We are ready to face any challenge,” said Mahinda Samarasinghe, plantation minister and the country’s human rights envoy.

Addressing a gathering in central Kandy town, he said while facing the challenge in the UNHRC, Sri Lanka would not let its troops down. “We will neither betray the nation nor our gallant troops.” Samarasinghe said military had never committed any wrong while combating the rebel LTTE. “We all know what the LTTE did. They took as human shields 300,000 civilians. They fired at troops from among the civilians.”

The minister said, “It was true that the civilians were caught in the crossfire. The army was trying to crush terrorism. But the figure given as 40,000 killed was a lie”. He said it was not possible to take a count of the casualties during the final battle. “This false figure of 40,000 was given by a UN employee to help him sell a book”.

Sri Lanka has come under increasing international pressure to probe allegations of excessive civilian deaths during the final battle that ended in May 2009. A crucial UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka is coming up in March. Two previous resolutions backed by India were adopted in the council binding Sri Lanka for commitments in reconciliation and rights accountability issues. (PTI)

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Comments - 18

Saskia Sunday, 19 January 2014 09:18 AM

You haven't learn the lesson from the past 2 resolutions.

Malin Monday, 20 January 2014 09:36 AM

Be ready to face a challenge is not difficult but winning the challenge is difficult.

ram Monday, 20 January 2014 07:23 AM

singing fish not so far in March get ready for the celibration

Sri Lankan Monday, 20 January 2014 03:21 AM

Through out the history lot of efforts done to put the final nail over SL, but no one was able to.U pathetic people will see the reality soon.

Jim pappa Sunday, 19 January 2014 02:11 PM

Seems they have run out of nails until c-Ray-zy Mccullum fabricates another one.

singing fish Sunday, 19 January 2014 11:17 AM

Truth never dies,one day the goverment has to face the consequences for hiding the truth.

investigator Sunday, 19 January 2014 09:34 AM

lanka government leaders are taking lanka for a ride by lankan peoples money.

Ruzni Saturday, 18 January 2014 02:34 PM

Seems like the final nail in the coffin..

Vic Sunday, 19 January 2014 09:04 AM

Then why can't the Government conduct an Independent investigation and establish the truth?

FOX Sunday, 19 January 2014 05:57 AM

SIR!!! YOU HAVE GOLDEN BRAIN.

ind Sunday, 19 January 2014 04:34 AM

Not ending final nails !! How many final nails ??

Analyst Sunday, 19 January 2014 03:36 AM

Mr. Mahinda Samarasinghe is so true.. That's why SL govt did not allow any independent or foriegn media or NGOs in the areas of conflict for during 2008 and 2009.

UN-Predict Sunday, 19 January 2014 02:51 AM

UN is pro western! Even our friendly nations such as China and Russia can not do much about in our favour. How unfortunate!!!!

Suq Madique Saturday, 18 January 2014 03:24 PM

Numerous attempts have been made to find us guilty but so far none of the charges have stuck. Why??? Because the charges were all false.

Hiran Saturday, 18 January 2014 03:05 PM

u.n trying to sell books with false figures... well said

attanayaka Saturday, 18 January 2014 02:57 PM

why we are waiting to do good things for our country benefits. we should do before UN tell us.more than UN. we have paining about our people (TAMIL,MUSLIM SINHALA ) more than anyone .
UN - DO NOT POURING "TEAR" OF CROCODILE ABOUT SRI LANKA.

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SL ready to face UN rights body-Minister

Comments - 18

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