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Special debate in Parliament to decide on UN panel
Jun 13, 201403:41 PM
A special debate is to be held in Parliament to decide as to whether or not the panel appointed by the UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay on Sri Lanka would be permitted to enter the country.
The debate is to be held on June 17 and 18, according to a decision reached at the Party Leader’s Meeting held this morning.
It has been reported that a vote may also be held if required following the debate in parliament.
In March this year the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution that called for an investigation into allegations of human rights violations during the civil war in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha, yesterday said that Sri Lanka would not recognise the UN investigation.
“The investigation will infringe upon the sovereignty of Sri Lanka and goes against the principals of the United Nations,” he said while accusing that overall “the UNHRC had shown itself to be prejudice when dealing with Sri Lanka”.
Kehiliya Rambukwella, Sri Lankan cabinet spokesperson, said that while the government would not be assisting with the investigation the decision as to whether or not the UN team would be permitted to enter the country would be decided by parliament. “The decision made by parliament will reflect the will of the people,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, also said on Tuesday that Parliament would make the decision as to whether or not the investigation team would be allowed into the country. Currently, Rajapaksa’s government controls the Sri Lankan parliament with a comfortable two third majority.
