Sri Lanka not to change policies despite outcome in Geneva

Xinhua | China Radio International
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Whatever the outcome in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva is, Sri Lanka will not change its policies and ongoing projects, a government spokesman said on Thursday.

Acting Cabinet spokesman Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena on Thursday said that the conduct of the government would not be changed depending on Thursday's decision in Geneva.

"Even before the U.S. backed resolution was introduced Sri Lanka had acted on various decisions to bring about reconciliation at the end of three decades civil war," he said.

Abeywardena explained that the government started resettlement of internally displaced persons, rehabilitated former rebels, recruited Tamil speaking policemen and developed former war-torn areas without any external influence after war.

He said whatever the outcome in Geneva, the country would continue with its policies that have already started.

Abeywardena added the U.S. sponsored resolution would not be able to be passed unless there is undue influence by the Western nations.

The vote on the U.S.-backed resolution on Sri Lanka is scheduled to be held on Thursday at the UNHRC in Geneva.

Over the last two weeks, supporters of the government and religious leaders conducted protest marches and demonstrations in capital Colombo, urging the United States and other Western countries not to exert pressure on Sri Lanka which is rising from the ashes of prolonged civil war.

The United States had moved for the resolution on Sri Lanka in order to push the government to address accountability issues during the final stages of the war against Tamil Tiger rebels and to also implement recommendations of a war commission.

© CRI