President Maithripala Sirisena asked political parties to submit their written suggestions on the future course of action on the UNHRC resolution within two weeks.

Addressing the All Party Representatives Meeting at the President’s office, Sirisena stated that different ideas, suggestions and criticism are important factors in a democracy.

The President pointed out that Sri Lanka was discussed for three years at Geneva and added that the recommendations put forward at the recently-concluded sessions has taken a positive stride, in contrast to the recommendations made at the earlier sessions of UNHRC.

President Sirisena pointed out that Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera assured the UNHRC that the government will take necessary measures to implement a process which addresses matters of non-recurrence, establishment of an office on missing persons and reparation.

The president added that the report suggests that both sides of the conflict have committed human rights violations. The president said that there were reports in the media that this resolution must be rejected by the government. However, the President reiterated that a responsible government has to face the UNHRC recommendations along with the main parties concerned.

Sirisena stressed that the government of Sri Lanka has a strong stance in this matter and added that the objective of the all party representative meeting was to find the end result of this process.

Representatives of 21 political parties were present at the All Party Representatives Meeting. These included political parties represented in Parliament and some parties which are not represented. Non-parliamentary parties included the Democratic Party led by Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.