The resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC is clearly unacceptable as it is intrusive, bears misinterpretations and is dismissive of the positive, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe stated at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva.

He also warned the council that it may suffer the same fate as the UN Human Rights Commission if this trend continues.

Minister Samarasinghe highlighted that the tone of the document on Sri Lanka was overwhelmingly pessimistic while the paragraph dealing with the progress that Sri Lanka has made thus far ignores areas of clear progress.

He once again stated that the UN report on Sri Lanka exceeded the mandate set by the council while highlighting that there was no consultation by the Sri Lanka government as to the content of the report.

The Minister claimed that the government has confidence in its domestic processes and mechanisms.

He stated that the draft resolution could establish a bad precedent in the annals of the council while those genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of the people of Sri Lanka should encourage the reconciliation process.

He further called upon the member states of the council to safeguard the paramount principles of the council and added that while today it is Sri Lanka tomorrow it could be another country that does not adhere to the agendas of the countries whose agendas are not concerned with human rights issues.