SL should listen to int’l community-UK

9 April 2014 01:18 pm

Days after the Sri Lankan government announcement's that it would not cooperate with the UN probe on Sri Lanka, Britain said that the Sri Lankan government should listen to international community.

“…the international community has spoken through the United Nations Human Rights Council, it is important that the Government in Colombo listen to what has been said and what is asked of them, and that we can conduct an investigation through the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to make that country a better place for all,” British Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire told in UK Parliament on Tuesday.

He also said, “We got through the resolution that we wanted. The Prime Minister showed tremendous leadership on this. We were completely vindicated in our decision to go to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting-my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary included-because had we not gone there, we would not be in the position that we are today.”

Meanwhile, commenting on preventing sexual violence in conflict initiative and the summit in June, British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs William Hague told UK Parliament that he believe that the Sri Lankan Government will attend for the summit.
“I have invited the 143 nations that so far have endorsed the declaration that I launched on ending sexual violence to attend the summit in June, but I cannot force any of them to do so. However, given events in Sri Lanka in recent decades, it would be highly appropriate for the Sri Lankan Government to be there and to present their plans. I have encouraged them to do so,” Hague said.