GL in new lobbying spree in Africa

26 February 2012 07:52 pm

On the eve of the 19th UNHRC session, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris yesterday undertook a lobbying spree in the African continent to solicit the support of the like-minded countries in the region to defeat the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the Council.

A ministerial delegation headed by Prof. Peiris engaged in talks with a number of countries in Geneva over a period of one week, and he left for Africa for further diplomatic engagements in this respect.  

Prior to his departure from Geneva, the Minister told journalists that the US had intensified its campaigning against Sri Lanka at this juncture by deploying its envoys to various world capitals. He said it would be an uphill task for the government to campaign under the unfolding circumstances. 

“The US has deployed envoys to various capitals to exert pressure on respective countries support this resolution against Sri Lanka,” he said.

The US is planning to bring this resolution on the basis that the government of Sri Lanka had failed to take measures to implement the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).  However, the government rejected such allegations, and cited the move by the US as high-handed and intrusive. (Kelum Bandara reporting from Geneva)