brand logo

Consensual resolution by UN Core Group: Govt. yet undecided

07 Feb 2021

  • Discussions ongoing

  • 'It is a political decision’

  The Government of Sri Lanka is yet to take a decision on the proposed consensual resolution with the United Nations (UN) Core Group on Sri Lanka in connection with the relevant UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka, as discussions in this regard are currently ongoing. Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage told The Sunday Morning on Friday (5) that no decision has been made regarding the matter as of yet. “No update yet. Still no decision has been taken and we are at the discussion stage,” he said, when queried as to whether the Government has made any decision concerning the issue. When further questioned regarding a timeframe as to when a decision pertaining to the matter would be reached, he said: “We cannot say at this juncture, as it is a political decision.” The UN Core Group on Sri Lanka consists of Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and the UK. Prof. Colombage previously said that the UN Core Group has proposed a consensual resolution in terms of the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka and that the Government was studying the text of the said consensual resolution. However, he said the Government has indicated that a consensual resolution will be politically challenging. On 27 January, the Government sent its response to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s report on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Co-Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Udaya Gammanpila on Wednesday (3) said the Government has decided to reject the report of the UN HCHR based on two grounds. “One reason was that most of the content in the report did not fall under the mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The other reason was that the allegations in the report were baseless,” he said.


More News..