Feb 27, Colombo: Sri Lanka strongly objected to the statement made by the United States representative, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations, Esther Brimmer, on Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Tuesday as "drawing disproportionate attention" towards the island nation.

In a 'Right of Reply' to a statement made by the US representative during the High Level Segment of the 22nd sessions of the UNHRC Tuesday (26), Counselor of the Sri Lanka Permanent Mission in Geneva, Priyanga Wicremasinghe said Sri Lanka is firmly of the view that the Council should not either encourage or debate any country-specific resolution by virtue of a singled out process.

"We strongly reject any unfair, biased, unprincipled and unjust approach that may be adopted by this Council towards the protection and promotion of Human Rights of Sri Lanka," the Right of Reply said.

The U.S. said the Council's work remains unfinished so long as Sri Lanka continues to fall short in implementing the recommendations of Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), or in addressing the underlying sources of its ethnic conflict.

Noting that last year's UN resolution encouraged the civil society groups on the ground to continue their efforts, Brimmer said the U.S. will this year introduce another resolution to ensure that the international community to monitor progress, and to again offer assistance on outstanding reconciliation and accountability issues.

In reply the Sri Lankan delegate said they are surprised by the U.S. statement drawing disproportionate attention towards Sri Lanka, especially when Sri Lanka is implementing a comprehensive process of reconciliation involving all communities based on the National Action Plan on the implementation of the recommendations of the LLRC.

"Sri Lanka should be encouraged in its reconciliation process, rather than being singled out for any disproportionate attention in this Council," Sri Lankan delegate said.

Full text of the Right of Reply

Statement by the U. S delegate Esther Brimmer