Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesighe on Monday challenged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to a public debate this week on the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka which is expected to be adopted or rejected on Thursday, March 27.

 

Addressing an election rally on Kiribathgoda last evening, Mr. Wickremesinghe said this debate should be telecast worldwide as well as on all local television and radio channels.
 

He said a date and time for a debate should be fixed before Thursday as the vote is going to be taken up on the resolution against Sri Lanka on Thursday. 

He said such a debate would help both leaders to identify aspects which they could both agree to and also to come up with a suitable solution to the national issue together.
 

Mr. Wickremesinghe also suggested an all party discussion aimed at a common set of action which could be submitted to the UNHRC. 

Questioning as to why the government failed to implement recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) despite it being a commission appointed by the government itself, he suggested that the government holds a referendum to seek the opinion of the people.
 

Mr. Wickremesinghe also said one could not understand why the ruling party was asking the people to vote for them if they opposed the resolution. “the UNHRC cannot take Sri Lanka to international criminal courts and it cannot impose sanctions on Sri Lanka. Then why is all this fuss?” he questioned. 

The birthday song was played for Mr. Wickremesighe when he arrived at the rally, since his birthday fell on Monday.(Yohan Perera)

Pictures by Pradeep K Pathirana