Sat, Mar 9, 2013, 12:13 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Mar 08, Colombo: The United States Friday formally submitted the draft resolution on Sri Lanka to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at its 22nd session in Geneva. The U.S circulated the Draft resolution A/HRC/22/L.1 "Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka" yesterday at the Council and held an informal consultations today on the draft resolution.
The Secretary of External Affairs Ministry of Sri Lanka Karunathilaka Amunugama said today that the Ministry is studying the draft resolution and will respond to the proposals in the resolution following the study, the Ministry.
The second draft of the US resolution against Sri Lanka noted with concern that the National Action Plan put forward by Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations made in the report by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) does not adequately address serious violations of international humanitarian law.
It noted that Sri Lankan government failed to "fulfill its public commitments, including on devolution of political authority."
The resolution welcomed the report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on advice and technical assistance for the government to promote reconciliation and accountability and supported the establishment of a "truth-seeking mechanism as an integral part of a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to transitional justice."
However, the resolution appreciated the government's efforts in facilitating the visit of a technical mission from the High Commissioner's office and encouraged the government to increase its dialogue and cooperation with the OHCHR.
The resolution reiterated its call upon the Sri Lankan government to "expeditiously and effectively implement the constructive recommendations made in the LLRC report and to take all necessary additional steps to fulfill its relevant legal obligations and commitment to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability, including investigations of violations of international law, and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans."