October 09, Colombo (LNW): Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Vijitha Herath, announced yesterday that Sri Lanka will continue to oppose draft resolution 51/1 of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and has not agreed to any extension of the external evidence collection mechanism’s powers. He made these remarks during the weekly Cabinet media briefing at the Government Information Department.
The decision was made following submissions by the Foreign Affairs Minister regarding the ongoing 57th session of the UNHRC in Geneva. The Cabinet of Ministers has officially endorsed Sri Lanka’s position to reject the draft resolution.
However, Minister Herath emphasized that Sri Lanka remains dedicated to addressing human rights issues, including reconciliation, through its own local mechanisms. He reassured that Sri Lanka will continue to engage in meaningful discussions with the UNHRC and its regular human rights mechanisms.
Commenting on the political landscape, Minister Herath highlighted that a newly elected President is in office and a new government will soon be formed after the upcoming parliamentary elections. Many of the elements within the UNHRC proposal align with the policies of the new administration, and the government’s stance will be conveyed during the final UNHRC session in Geneva.
While the new government is committed to safeguarding human rights, Herath noted that it will take time to fully implement these measures. The rejection of certain aspects of the proposal will be part of the position communicated to the UNHRC during the concluding session tomorrow.
