Head of the Sri Lanka mission in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, raised serious objections and concerns over the first draft text of the resolution on Sri Lanka which is to be tabled during the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

In his opening statement to the first informal consultation on the draft resolution on Sri Lanka today in Geneva, he said that the text is reparative, judgmental and prescriptive and not in keeping with the spirit of the process of reconciliation and reform underway in Sri Lanka.

He pointed out that Sri Lanka was ready to work together with the UNHRC, in a clear departure from its earlier position. He added that the government has taken a totally different course after January 8. However, the US draft resolution does not help Sri Lanka in seeking out this new path, he pointed out. 

“Many paragraphs in the current draft are in fact counterproductive to the reconciliation efforts of the Government and have the tendency to polarize communities, vitiate the atmosphere on the ground that is being carefully nurtured towards reconciliation and pace building and restrict the space required for consultation,” Aryasinha said.