Over 5,000 Sri Lankan expatriates from European countries gathered in front of the United Nations Human Rights Council headquarters in Geneva today to protest against the resolution on Sri Lanka, the Government Information Department reported.

The Sri Lanka Europe Friendship Association has also handed over a letter addressed to the Acting Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva, Michael Møller, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay.

The letter states that Sri Lanka, as a member of the UN for the past six decades, has proudly demonstrated its unstinted belief in the cherished principles of the global organisation.

“Hence, we expect fair treatment from all the UN bodies as well as its Chief Executive Officers such as you on issues pertaining to its Member States like Sri Lanka,” it said.

The association further says that since the defeat of terrorism in May 2009, a lasting peace is the only hope for the future of Sri Lanka and its people.

While being aware of the fact that post-conflict processes do take time, what matters the most is going on the right direction and keeping our eye on the ultimate goal of reconciliation although it is a lengthy process, it said.

They say that the new resolution calling for an international probe into Sri Lanka will not help to put the country on the path to justice and reconciliation but become “detrimental to fostering good will and spirit of cooperation within the UN system.”

“We believe that these actions will further reduce the confidence most Sri Lankans have on the UN system as a neutral body within the international system,” says the letter, attached with signature sheets of more than 4,200 participants of the rally.