Foreign minster: Sri Lanka has guaranteed the rights of all its citizens

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has guaranteed the rights of all citizens living in Sri Lanka, said Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Gunawardena assured that the country would continue with the local mechanisms to achieve reconciliation and development for people regardless of whatever resolutions passed by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against Sri Lanka, according to Daily News.

He also assured that the country would continue to work closely with the UNHRC, the UN as well as all the other friendly countries.

He gave this assurance during a press conference at the Foreign Ministry Auditorium.

Minister Gunawardena also pointed out that the UNHRC cannot work against the UN Charter.

The minister said the government rejects the report submitted by the UNHRC High Commissioner as it is based on completely unjust and incorrect statistics.

He also pointed out that resolutions could not be passed targeting one country according to the UN Charter.

Sri Lanka’s UN envoy, C. A. Chandraprema, called the text “unhelpful and divisive.”

The minister also said that Sri Lanka pointed out that attention should be drawn to the global COVID-19 pandemic at this juncture.

After Tuesday’s vote, Minister Gunawardena, accused Western countries of “wanting to dominate the global south” — and noted the result fell short of a majority in the 47-member Geneva body.

“Twenty-five votes were not on their side of the resolution,” he said.

“This is the important message that the countries in Geneva have given amidst great pressure by the European countries.”

Alluding to the rights council’s rules, Gunawardena said measures in the resolution cannot be implemented without the consent of Sri Lankan authorities.

But Human Rights Watch hailed a “landmark resolution” that it said would boost scrutiny of rights violations, improve international justice and advance accountability for victims and their families.

“The world has sent a message to Sri Lanka’s rulers, that they cannot escape accountability for international crimes, and they should step back now from escalating ongoing abuses,” said John Fisher, the advocacy group’s Geneva director.

Gunewardena said the resolution lacked authority as more nations voted against or abstained than in favor.

“The resolution was brought by countries supported by Western powers that want to dominate the Global South,” he said.