UPR is the proper mechanism to review Sri Lanka's progress in human rights, UN Council told

Expressing concern over a resolution against the country at the currently proceeding sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Sri Lanka told the Council that the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is the appropriate mechanism to discuss progress made in the promotions and protection of human rights in the country. Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN mission in Geneva, Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam exercising her right to reply to the statements made by the United States and European Union at the Council said
Friday only 3 months after the release of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report and three years after the 30-year long terrorist conflict the United States appears to be "impatient". The Ambassador, noting the significant progress the government has made in implementing the LLRC recommendations, pointed out to the Council that nearly 95 percent of 290,000 displaced has been resettled, and all but one detention center were closed and over 10,000 ex-combatants have been reintegrated into the society. With regard to accountability, Ms. Kunanayakam said the Sri Lanka Army and the Navy have appointed two Courts of Inquiry and a Board of Inquiry. Noting the comments made by the High Commissioner of Human Rights Navanetham Pillay that the LLRC, the domestic body appointed by Sri Lankan President to probe the conduct of war fell short of the comprehensive accountability process recommended by the UN Secretary-General's Panel of Experts, Kunanayakam said the LLRC report reflects the emblematic parameters of rule of law strategies, which the government has noted for speedy implementation. Denouncing the debate of the LLRC report in the Council, the Ambassador pointed out that the UN Expert Panel report was the conclusion of a private consultation the UN Secretary-General used to advise himself on Sri Lanka's situation and not the product of the HRC, the General Assembly or any other UN body. "A dangerous precedent is again sought to be established by way of a debate on the recommendations of a domestic process which Sri Lanka condemns as a retrogressive step that undermines the constitutional parameters of this Council," the Ambassador said in her written statement. She informed the Council that Sri Lanka will be presenting its report on progress the country made on human rights issues for the second cycle of the UPR process in October this year. Ms. Kunanayakam reiterated that the majority of the international community supports Sri Lanka's efforts and its stand that a functioning domestic mechanism should not be circumvented by interference until its conclusion. "The hypocrisy and the double standard thus displayed (by the US and the European Union), if should they be encouraged would affect the credibility and undermine gravely the legitimacy of the Council," the Sri Lankan Ambassador warned.