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SL to tender home-grown resolution 

17 Feb 2021

  • GoSL and Core Group to go separate ways 

  • Gaps in GoSL needs and Core Group hopes: Sumanthiran 

  The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the “Core Group of Countries for Sri Lanka” are likely to go on divergent paths at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Session in Geneva, with all signs pointing to a home-grown resolution by Sri Lanka.  Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana told The Morning yesterday (16) that indications are that a home-grown resolution from the Government would be submitted at the session to be held next week onwards in Switzerland.  “It is very unlikely that we would agree to a consensual resolution,” noted Dr. Pathirana.  Speaking to The Morning yesterday, Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian and Spokesman President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran said that through their discussions with representatives from the Core Group, it has been learnt that a consensual resolution between the GoSL and the Core Group has been ruled out.  “There would be no consensual resolution as the expectations of the Core Group have not been met by the Government. There is a large gap between what the Government wants and what the Core Group expects,” said Sumanthiran.  Sumanthiran confirmed that he had met with British High Commissioner in Colombo Sarah Hulton on 10 February to discuss the upcoming Geneva Session. He further said that members of the minority Tamil community are hoping that the precedents set by the previous 30/1 Resolution are upheld and that the Government co-operates at the UNHRC Session.  Earlier this month, The Morning learnt through a top official at the Foreign Ministry that Sri Lanka is considering submitting a home grown resolution by itself at the upcoming session.  The Core Group for Sri Lanka – including the UK, Canada, Germany, Montenegro, and North Macedonia – has confirmed that it will be submitting a resolution on Sri Lanka. Although the GoSL was initially considering consenting to this resolution and is at present engaged in discussions with the Core Group in this regard, it was reported that the Foreign Ministry is seeking further time to make a decision concerning the matter.  All attempts to contact the Foreign Ministry for clarification proved futile.  The upcoming 46th Regular Session of the UNHRC would be held from 22 February to 23 March, where Sri Lanka’s issues of accountability with regard to the final stages of the war in 2009 would be discussed. The Core Group for Sri Lanka is expected to submit a resolution while the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet raised serious concerns regarding Sri Lanka’s human rights situation in her report earlier this year.  


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