Sri Lanka to fight the US resolution to the end

Sri Lanka on Thursday said it will fight the resolution submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council by the United States against Sri Lanka over alleged war crimes "to the very last minute." Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam said
the present climate at the Human Rights Council is in Sri Lanka's favor, but more work need to be done to garner support from member states to defeat the resolution. "A lot of work still remains to be done to convince Council Members of the correctness of our position. It is far too early to venture a prognosis," the Ambassador said in an interview. The stance of the United States is unacceptable to most countries, the Ambassador said adding that a resolution and labeling the country as a 'failed state' suggesting that Sri Lanka is unable or unwilling to protect its citizens, that its institutions are incapable of implementing the recommendations of LLRC, and that it refuses to engage with UN institutions are measures set in motion for a regime change. "What, in fact, are the US trying to tell us with their draft resolution? They are not saying that our LLRC report is bad. They are not saying that there are gross and systematic violations of human rights in Sri Lanka. What they are saying is that they don�' have confidence that we will implement the recommendations. They are judging our intentions, not the ground reality!," the Ambassador retorted. The US resolution while welcoming the constructive recommendations made by the LLRC in its report but, notes with concern that the report does not adequately address serious allegations of violations of international humanitarian law. Kunanayakam said that there is a general feeling in the Council that Sri Lanka is unfairly targeted by the powerful countries to achieve their interests and a resolution on Sri Lanka will, many feel, will be the ultimate test of the Council's politicization. "It will make it or break it," the representative said. The Ambassador stressed that lot more work need to be done to defeat the resolution and Sri Lanka must not underestimate or overestimate its capacity. "We must be lucid," she said adding that although more nations have spoken for Sri Lanka it must be a 'grave error' to claim victory at this stage. Sri Lanka has won over majority of countries in the Council including China, Russia, Pakistan, African states, Islamic countries, and Non-aligned nations in favor. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan delegation including Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe are to return Geneva to address the resolution.