Sri Lanka turns deaf to call for international probe into Easter attack

• Reiterates support to the One China Policy 
• It is regrettable that the OHCHR has sought to use incorrect and unsubstantiated information from biased sources

By Kelum Bandara   

Sri Lanka appears to be turning down calls for an an internationally monitored investigation into Easter Sunday bombings since it rapped yesterday the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for trying to use incorrect and unsubstantiated information from biased sources in analysis in this regard.

Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Geneva Himalee Arunatilaka made remarks to the UNHRC in this regard in reference to the written update. She briefed the steps, already taken and to be taken, by Sri Lanka to investigate the incidents through its mechanisms.   

“It is regrettable that the OHCHR has sought to use incorrect and unsubstantiated information from biased sources in their analysis. As Sri Lanka has repeatedly informed this Council, extensive and comprehensive investigations have been carried out by the government with regard to these attacks including a Presidential Commission of Inquiry, the report of which was submitted to Parliament.  

Resolutions 60/251 and 48/141 require that the work of this Council and the OHCHR should be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, and constructive international dialogue and cooperation.Unfortunately, this does not appear to be the case with regard to Sri Lanka,” she said .  

She said,” Investigations carried out by the Government authorities were assisted by international professional agencies including the Australian Federal Police, the FBI of the United States and INTERPOL.  

As at April 2023, 79 have been indicted in the Easter Sunday terror attacks related matters. On 12 January 2023, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka delivered its judgement on the Fundamental Rights petition that was filed against the President, IGP, Director of State Intelligence Service, Defence Secretary and Chief of National Intelligence, at the time of these attacks. In addition, the Government has decided to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee to address concerns raised in the public domain as of late and the President has appointed a committee, led by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate the relevant allegations,” she said.  

Sri Lanka also reiterated that it supports the One China policy .  

“We welcome China’s cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms. We reiterate that interference in the internal affairs of any sovereign country cannot and should not be tolerated,” she said.