Won't accept Sri Lanka's agreement with UN Human Rights Council : Gota

Presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today (Oct 15) said he will not accept Sri Lanka's 2015 agreement with the UN Human Rights Council to investigate alleged war crimes, as it was signed under a different government.

“In my personal view, it is not a legal document. But always we will work with the UNHRC to solve any issues that they have,” he said at his first news conference after being declared as a Presidential Candidate.

Responding to a query, the former Defence secretary also said he would not accept the agreement as a document signed by the state, since his party has publicly expressed its objection towards the document.

Rajapaksa, who will contest from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party, rejected allegations of war crimes, during his tenure as defence secretary, when LTTE cadres surrendered to the Sri Lanka Army during the final stages of the war.

He claimed that some 13,800 LTTE cadres who surrendered had been “rehabilitated” and “re-integrated” to society under the previous government.

“We never kept them in custody,” he said pointing out that he had implemented a “very successful” rehabilitation program that had been commended even by international observers.

Rajapaksa insisted that it is time to move forward and “forget about hanging onto all old allegations”.

The SLPP candidate said, he views reconciliation as an exercise that allows the people of all communities to maintain their “dignity” and enjoy equal opportunities including education, housing, and employment.

Pix by M. A. Pushpa Kumara