Sri Lanka has announced that it will continue to oppose the draft resolution 51/1 of the United Nations Human Rights Council at the 57th session currently underway at Geneva. Speaking to reporters, Cabinet spokesman and Minister Vijitha Herath said that the island nation has not agreed to any resolution that extends the powers of the external evidence collection mechanism. Mr. Herath added that Sri Lanka remains committed to addressing key human rights issues, including reconciliation, through local mechanisms and will continue to engage in cooperative and meaningful discussions with the Human Rights Council and its regular human rights mechanisms.

It is notable that former president Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government had initiated efforts in the interest of achieving truth, unity and reconciliation and introduced a Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation earlier this year. The Paragraph 8 of the draft resolution 51/1 reiterates the previous UN resolutions and seeks to further empower the office of High Commissioner of Human Rights evidence collection and preserving to support judicial and other proceedings towards accountability for past alleged gross violations of human rights. Historically, India has maintained a line in which it believes in fundamental principles of support to the aspirations of the Tamils for equality, justice, dignity, peace and unity on one hand while also territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka on the other.