Sri Lanka will 'resist resolution'

Sri Lanka has rejected a draft resolution tabled at the UN Human Rights Council.

Tamara Kunanayakam, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, criticised the move by the US.

Ms Kunanayakam said that Sri Lanka is working hard to convince the Human Rights Council to vote against the resolution.

"A lot of work still remains to be done to convince Council Members of the correctness of our position. It is far too early to venture a prognosis," the Ambassador said in an interview.

"What, in fact, are the US trying to tell us with their draft resolution?

"They are not saying that our LLRC report is bad. They are not saying that there are gross and systematic violations of human rights in Sri Lanka. What they are saying is that they don't have confidence that we will implement the recommendations.

"They are judging our intentions, not the ground reality!"

Water Supply Minister Dinesh Gunarwardene said they are confident the resolution will be defeated.

"This resolution is ill-timed, ill-conceived and borne out of ignorance," Gunawardena, who is also the chief government whip in parliament, told reporters.

He accused the US of ignoring Sri Lanka's reconciliation moves.

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