Lanka will inform UNHRC on progress

Sri Lanka informed the UN Human Rights Council today that it will brief the Council during the latter part of this year during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the progress the country has made in the promotion and protection of human rights.

The Sri Lankan delegation also urged the Council to vigorously discourage any attempts to device procedures outside the procedures established by the council and to jealously guard the special place accorded to the UPR process.

In a statement to the Council the Sri Lankan delegation said that the promotion and protection of human rights should be based on the principle of cooperation and genuine dialogue and aimed at strengthening the capacity of member states to comply with their human rights obligations for the benefit of all human kind.

Sri Lanka warned that the Human Rights Council is at risk of failing the test set out by the UN General Assembly when the Council was established replacing the UN Human Rights Commission.

The delegation is of the view that the UPR mechanism has opened unprecedented opportunities to initiate and strengthen dialogue on matters relating to human rights at every level in all countries.

Sri Lanka is unhappy with moves to censure the government through a U.S sponsored resolution over its failure to?implement?the?recommendations?of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

The vote on the resolution is expected to take place in two parts, one tomorrow (Thursday) and the other on Friday. (www.colombogazette.com)