Sri Lanka expresses concern over draft US resolution At UNHRC

Head of the Sri Lanka mission in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, raised objections and concerns over the first draftof the resolution on Sri Lanka which is to be tabled during the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). In his opening statement to the first informal consultation on the draft resolution on Sri Lanka yesterday in Geneva by the "core group", he said that the text is "reparative, judgmental and prescriptive and not in keeping with the spirit of the process of reconciliation and reform underway in Sri Lanka." He pointed out that Sri Lanka was ready to work together with the UNHRC, in a clear departure from its earlier position. He added that the government has taken a totally different course after January 8. However, the US draft resolution does not help Sri Lanka in seeking out this new path, he pointed out. “Many paragraphs in the current draft are in fact counterproductive to the reconciliation efforts of the Government and have the tendency to polarize communities, vitiate the atmosphere on the ground that is being carefully nurtured towards reconciliation and pace building and restrict the space required for consultation,” Aryasinha said. Read the full statement below First informal session on the Draft resolution on Sri Lanka