Let Sri Lanka be judged on progress– Samarasinghe

7 March 2013 12:19 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 38 Bookmark

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Sri Lanka deserves to be judged on its progress in implementing the recommendations of its own reconciliation commission than pre conceived agendas against it, the government’s human rights envoy and minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe said.

Speaking about his presentation made at the current UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva, Samarasinghe was hopeful that it would be viewed with due care by the council and its member states. “I hope that my presentation has made the impact it is aimed for. If anyone wants to be impartial and unbiased they would treat my presentation with fairness”, Samarasinghe told reporters.

Claiming that 99 per cent of some of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) have been already implemented, Samarasinghe said “I told them to come and see it for themselves –how far we have progressed. I stated the truthful position (about implementation) in my presentation”.

He said Sri Lanka had made progress in LLRC recommendations on resettlement of the conflict displaced, demining of the conflict zones, achieving economic development in the regions, rehabilitation and reintegration into the society of the ex-LTTE combatants and caring for LTTE child recruits.

Samarasinghe, who is currently in Colombo would return to Geneva in time to attend UNHRC’s universal periodic review (UPR) debate on March 15.

“I will be addressing the UPR debate and on 20 March there will be Human Rights Commissioner’s report”. Sri Lanka was hopeful of support coming from Sri Lanka backers at the discussion on the High Commissioner’s report.

Speaking on the proposed resolution to be moved by the US, Samarasinghe said it was premature for the government to comment on it without officially knowing its nature.

The US resolution adopted last year with unexpected support from India urged Sri Lanka to show rapid progress on the LLRC recommendations.

Sri Lanka’s claims of progress however are being doubted by rights organizations and the international community.(PTI)