Sri Lanka's stance on the Geneva resolution not changed - Minister

The Sri Lankan government said it rejected the resolution brought against the country at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva last month and there has been no change in the government's stance on the proposal since its inception. Clarifying the government's stance on the resolution in response to a query by the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister Professor G. L. Peiris said the government has no need to conduct further discussions in this regard. The Minister added that the government has by now implemented many recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and only a handful of proposals remain to be implemented. The Sri Lankan government has expressed strong opposition against the United States sponsored UN resolution 22/1 on Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka. The resolution is based on the Resolution 19/2 of 2012 which was not recognized by Sri Lanka. The resolution while welcoming and acknowledging the progress made by the Sri Lankan government in rebuilding infrastructure, demining, and resettling the majority of internally displaced persons, notes that considerable work lies ahead in the areas of justice, reconciliation and the resumption of livelihoods. The government says that although a considerable progress has made in implementing most of the LLRC recommendations, it needs the time and space as well as resources to implement all the constructive recommendations.