UNHRC resolution should be turned in SL’s favour: Ranil

18 September 2015 03:14 am

The United Nation Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) resolution should not be publicised but rather diligently turned in Sri Lanka”s favour, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Commenting on the UNHRC issue at a ceremony held to mark the 109th birth anniversary of Mr. J. R. Jayewardene last evening, Mr. Wickremesinghe said the UNHRC issue should be handled with care.

Mr. Wickremesinghe referred to a recent report which proposed the passage of an Indemnity Bill to deal with the UNHRC. He said passing such a bill would be disadvantageous to Sri Lanka as the purpose of such legislation would be to pardon those who had committed crimes. “Passing and implementing an Indemnity Bill would mean pardoning persons who had committed crimes. Why should we rush to bring in legislation to pardon criminals when we have done nothing wrong and when no one has accused us of doing wrong?’ he said. He said the UNHRC had not said that Sri Lanka had committed war crimes but only made allegations.

He said only thing Sri Lanka need do was to take advice on modalities for setting up the court (from international bodies) and stick to a domestic investigation on the alleged human rights violations; and not involve any international bodies.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said the issues should be handled diligently -- as things were handled by Mr. Jayewardene when he was president. He said Mr. Jayawardene’s style of handling things carefully had helped the country to remain undivided. (Yohan Perera)