Govt. reviewing Geneva process: Dinesh

The Foreign Affairs Ministry is currently reviewing action to be taken by the government at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) during its March session in Geneva, a Minister said yesterday.

Subject Minister Dinesh Gunawardane told the Daily Mirror yesterday that the government and his Ministry had started work in this regard. Asked whether the government would withdraw from co-sponsorship of the UNHRC resolution 30/1 adopted in 2015 under the previous government, he said the government would start top-level engagements on this matter after the process was reviewed by his ministry officials.

Sri Lanka co-sponsored the UNHRC resolution in 2015 committing, among others, to set up a judicial mechanism with the participation of Commonwealth or international judicial personnel to hear alleged war crime and accountability issues.

However, the decision was criticised even by the leaders of that government including then-President Maithripala Sirisena. (Kelum Bandara)