Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva and Leader of the Sri Lanka delegation Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha saidthat Sri Lanka would continue to engage with the regular mechanisms of the Council despite Sri Lanka's non-recognition of the politically motivated resolution on the country during HRC 25
Addressing the 27th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva today,Ambassador Aryasinha reiterated that "Sri Lanka's categorical rejection of the resolution and its call for a 'comprehensive investigation' by the OHCHR".
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"Sri Lanka will be addressing this issue comprehensively when the High Commissioner’s 'oral update' is taken up for discussion later in this Session,"he said.
The Ambassador's statement noted that "the Resolution and its mandate for a 'comprehensive investigation' challenge the sovereignty and independence of a member state of the United Nations, are based on profoundly flawed premises inimical to the interests of the people of Sri Lanka and violate afundamental principle of international law which requires that national remedies have to be exhausted before resorting to international mechanisms."
The statement pointed out that the intrusive external investigative authority vested on the OHCHR not only exceeds its mandate, but disregards the domestic processes in place in the country. Adding to that it disrespects the inherent social, cultural and ethnic susceptibilities of the people of the country.
The statement highlighted that through foreign intrusions the reconciliation process which is already underway in the country is being jeopardized.
The Ambassador maintained that "Sri Lanka also regrets attempts being made to portray the country as intolerant of religious minorities. For centuries, people in Sri Lanka practising different faiths and practices have coexisted peacefully. However, like in all countries in the world composed of multi-cultural and multi-religious communities, unfortunate isolated incidents can occur. Wherever such incidents of attacks involving religious places of worship have taken place or any individual has been targeted on the basis of religion or faith, the legal process has been set in motion in respect of reported incidents and investigations have been launched. The Government expressly condemns all acts of violence against any religious or ethnic communities".
