GoSL faces serious challenge at Human Rights Council - SL Minister

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 December 2009, 13:25 GMT]
Sri Lankan Minister of Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe on Wednesday admitted that the Government of Sri Lanka finds itself in a situation to face the possibility of another serious challenge in the next meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council as the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Prof Philip Alston is expected to submit a report. He said the International Community is focusing on Sri Lanka after Sarath Fonseka’s ‘erratic’ statement.

General Sarath Fonseka’s statement about the alleged execution of three senior LTTE officials has created a number of problems for the country and General (retd) Sarath Fonseka should be held responsible for any damage caused to the Sri Lankan armed forces and the country’s image owing to this 'erratic' statement, Mr. Samarasinghe said.

The GoSL Human Rights minister said a three-member team led by him had to make a great effort in negating various forces that stood against the country at the special International Human Rights Council meeting after the country was 'liberated from terrorism' and the Sri Lanka delegation succeeded in convincing the majority of Human Rights Council members at the time .

The International Community which remained silent since the resolution against Sri Lanka was defeated in the Human Rights Council has focused their attention on Sri Lanka due to General Sarath Fonseka’s uncalled statement, he said.