Unwarranted and unnecessary interference; Sri Lanka strongly opposes UN panel
June 23, 2010 02:43 pm
The Government of Sri Lanka strongly opposes the appointment, by the
Secretary General of the United Nations, of the Sri
Lanka – Panel of Experts announced by his Spokesperson inNew York on
Tuesday, 22nd June 2010, the External Affairs Ministry said today.
The Full Statement;
The Government of Sri Lanka strongly opposes the appointment, by the
Secretary General of the United Nations, of the Sri Lanka – Panel of Experts
announced by his Spokesperson in New York on Tuesday, 22nd June 2010.
Sri Lankawas ravaged by the scourge of terrorism for over 30 years. The people of Sri Lanka have,
during this period, suffered violence and terror of unimaginable proportions,
unleashed on them by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the most ruthless
terrorist organization in the world. After a long and difficult struggle the
Government of Sri Lanka has successfully rid the country of terror, and is in
the process of rebuilding the lives of her people. As an important part of this
process His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka has appointed a Commission on
“Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation” under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, a
statutory regime available under Sri Lankan law. The Government is confident
that the Commission would make a most significant contribution to the further
strengthening of national amity, through a process of restorative justice.
Sri Lankais a sovereign state with a robustly independent judiciary and a tried and
tested system for the administration of justice. The Government of Sri Lanka
has consistently promoted and protected human rights. Indeed, this has been
explicitly acknowledged by legitimate organs of the United Nations system. The
Human Rights Council of the United Nations has formally adopted, after the
cessation of the conflict situation, a resolution commending, inter alia, the
commitment of Sri Lankato the promotion and protection of human rights.
Sri Lanka regards the
appointment of the Sri Lanka– Panel of Experts as an unwarranted and unnecessary interference with a
sovereign nation. This interference, moreover, has potential for exploitation
by vested interests hostile to the process of reconciliation taking place in Sri Lanka.
The Government of Sri Lanka notes that the joint statement of the President of
Sri Lanka and the Secretary – General issued at the conclusion of the Secretary
– General’s visit to the country on 23rd May 2009 makes no reference to “allegations
of violations of international humanitarian law committed during military
operations between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation of Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE)”.
Ministry of External Affairs Colombo
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