No need for SL to keep going to UNHRC - Dr Amunugama

Sri Lanka should not have to keep going to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to make its case, given that 10 years have now lapsed since the end of the war, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Dr Sarath Amunugama stated in Parliament today.

By Sandun Jayawardana

Dr Amunugama, who was part of the country’s delegation to the recently concluded 40^th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva, stressed that they completely rejects allegations of “war crimes” leveled against the Sri Lankan armed forces. “We shouldn’t have to keep going to Geneva to make our case. It’s 10 years now since the end of the war. This joke must stop,” he insisted.

He further alleged that the report compiled by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s office contained “blatant lies” regarding the numbers of those killed in the final stages of the war.

The Government cannot do anything that runs contrary to its Constitution, and as such, he said it was heartening to see Foreign Minister Thilak Mapanana rule out including foreign judges in any judicial mechanism probing alleged human rights violations.

Dr Amunugama stated that implementing the 13^th Amendment in full was not a challenge to the country, though there were practical issues regarding how powers could be effectively devolved to the provinces. “But, we are currently in discussions on that as the 13^th Amendment is enshrined in the Constitution and is now a law of the land,” he added. 

The UPFA MP further said Sri Lanka need not agree to any time-table to implement any UNHRC recommendations. "We will work according to our own time-table, not theirs," Dr Amunugama stated.