‘Lanka can’t be complacent’

22 June 2012 05:29 am

United Nations Human Rights Chief Navi Pillai had not made any reference to Sri Lanka in her address to the current UN Human Rights Council session, but the country could not be complacent about it, officials said yesterday.

External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunaratne Amunugama told the Daily Mirror that Canada was the only country that made a slight reference to Sri Lanka this time. However, Mr. Amunugama said Sri Lanka would continue to monitor the statements made by each country.

"Merely because the High Commissioner did not make any reference, we cannot assume that the international community had given up or had forgotten about Sri Lanka. We remain alert," he said.   He also said the invitation  extended to Ms. Pillai in April, 2011 to visit Sri Lanka still remained valid.  The US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka was adopted at the sessions held in March, 2012. According to the resolution, the High Commissioner was expected to submit her report on Sri Lanka to the session scheduled for March, next year.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's delegation in Geneva has made use of the present session to inform various countries about measures taken to develop the education sector here. (Kelum Bandara)