SL pushes for amendments

11 March 2013 01:58 am

Sri Lanka has suggested amendments to the resolution to be moved by the United States (US) at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Daily Mirror learns.

According to the revised version of the US resolution now being circulated, the US has called for an international investigation into alleged rights violations during the last stage of the war, as outlined in the report on Sri Lanka by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights  Navi Pillay. Sri Lankan diplomats had reportedly opposed the inclusion of this clause in the resolution on Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has categorically opposed it and called for an amendment to it.  Also, Sri Lanka wants the US to recognise, in its resolution, the country’s positive developments in the post war period.  There is also objection to the clause that asks for an interactive dialogue on the country’s situation even during the 24th session of the UNHRC.

Sri Lankan diplomats based in Geneva, are currently engaged with the countries interested in the issue here.   However, key allies of Sri Lanka, namely Cuba, Russia and China, are not members of the UNHRC on this occasion.

Earlier, India which voted against Sri Lanka last time, had asked the government of Sri Lanka to engage with the US on the content of the resolution and to try to reach consensus. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced that his country’s stand on the resolution would depend the content of the final draft of the resolution. (Kelum Bandara)