Government to meet resolution deadline

The government says it hopes to meet the deadline set by the US sponsored resolution to implement the remaining recommendations of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatillaka Amunugama said that most of the recommendations have already been implemented and the rest will be implemented by March 2014.
He however said the government was not bowing down to pressure extorted by the resolution adopted at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Amunugama said the government needs time to implement the recommendations and hopes to do so by the time the 2014 UNHRC session takes place.
The United States had last week warned that international action maybe initiated on Sri Lanka if the island fails to implement the latest resolution adopted at the UN Human Rights Council.
US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Sri Lanka should listen to the words of the international community and implement the plan that they have never implemented.
The US said that the resolution, which includes specific follow up actions including an interim update by the High Commissioner in September and a?comprehensive?report in March 2014 by the Office of the High Commissioner, is a strong signal that the international community intends to remain seized with the situation in Sri Lanka
The US Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, said the resolution should be seen as both an expression of support by the international community to the people of Sri Lanka, and as an expression of encouragement and concern to the government of Sri Lanka. The international community has sent a message that lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka will require meaningful steps toward truth and accountability.
Speaking to the media after the resolution was passed she said that the international community came together to call upon the government of Sri Lanka to fulfil its stated obligation to its own people to take concrete steps to move forward to address outstanding issues related to truth and reconciliation, and by meeting its obligation on accountability. (Colombo Gazette)
Report by?By Indika Sri Aravinda