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Sri Lanka rejects UN Human Rights Chief’s strictures
View(s):Sri Lanka has rejected several strong strictures made by the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner, Volker Turk, stating that the decline in the living standards of the people will be restored with the economy improving and the support of the International Community.
On Friday, the Government briefed foreign envoys of member nations of the Geneva-based world body of its position on the UN High Commissioner’s report.
The Government has stated that the decline in social protection measures and spending in public social infrastructure such as health and education and the decline in data related to food and nutrition referred to in the UN High Commissioner’s report are ‘unfortunate adverse outcomes’ of the debt crisis and the fiscal restrictions necessary in the path of recovery and stabilisation.
It has pointed out that the resources have been allocated as social protection and welfare measures to protect the vulnerable and the lack of financial resources to keep up to decades-long levels of high indicators of human and social development.
Mr. Turk’s “advanced, unedited version” of the report appears on the UNHRC website. It is to be presented at the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 9. A noteworthy feature has been the shift in emphasis to economic issues from previous reports that dealt with the separatist war and its outcome.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has engaged in a two-pronged approach. On Friday, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry briefed Colombo-based diplomats on the government’s position vis-à-vis the issues raised by High Commissioner Turk. The ministry has also posted on its website a detailed statement countering the issues listed in the UN Human Rights Commissioner’s 17-page report.
A nine-page Briefing Note delivered to member countries and others noted that “Sri Lanka was not only successful in democratically overcoming challenges in the social and political front, but also in stabilising its economy following its worst economic crisis in recent history…” This note also explained point by point the issues before the UNHRC and the Government’s official position.
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