Mr. President,

My delegation would like to exercise the right of reply in connection with certain statements made under agenda item number 4.

It is indeed my government’s view that certain situations affecting the Human Rights of individuals and groups of people living in various countries around the world, in fact demand the urgent attention of the Human Rights Council. However, if we as members of the international community are not objective in our expositions on situations which warrant the urgent attention of this Council, do not act in good faith, use this agenda item to give effect to hidden political or other agendas, and are not consistent and proportionate in our expositions, this agenda item of the Human Rights Council would also be reduced to another round of political rhetoric and a frivolous and useless game of naming and shaming.

Indeed Mr. President, conspicuous by its absence was reference under this agenda item, by certain segments of the international community, to the prevailing appalling and pathetic situation in Gaza and to the situation faced by people of Palestine . If that situation is not a dangerous situation which warrants the urgent attention by this assembly, I would remain unable to comprehend what situation is in fact dangerous.

It is under these circumstances Mr. President that Sri Lanka feels that this round of debate of the Council has also now been reduced to mere political naming and shaming based on narrow neo-colonial political ambitions being exercised by a small segment of the international community without objectivity and empathy. If this situation continues to prevail in this Council, we are indeed concerned that this Council will also be reduced to a international political ‘talk-shop’ without serving the people who indeed require the attention of this Council.

Mr. President, we as representatives of our country, are indeed committed at developing sustainable, indigenous and efficacious solutions for the resolution of the problems faced by Sri Lanka including in particular the persistent efforts by the most ruthless international terrorist organization in the world, the LTTE, to establish a (mono-ethnic, mono-political) separate sovereign State in the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka.

Successive governments of Sri Lanka have for over three decades attempted to engage the LTTE and other Tamil groups with the view to developing a political and constitutional solution to the country’s ethnic conflict. However, the LTTE has up to now on four different occasions walked out of peace talks and resumed terrorist activities.

At a time when Sri Lanka’s very existence as a unitary sovereign State is being seriously threatened by ruthless and dangerous terrorism. What in fact would you suggest the Sri Lankan government to do, other than to exercise legitimate military action aimed at thwarting the advancement of terrorist activities and eliminating terrorism?

So that the writ of the government could be exercised in all parts of the country enabling the government to efficaciously govern the entire country for the benefit of all people of Sri Lanka.

Mr. President, there were several delegates who suggested at this assembly that the government of Sri Lanka negotiates with the LTTE. May I simply ask one question from such delegates. Would they ever dare to make such a recommendation to world powers, and suggest that such world powers negotiate with the terrorist organization ‘Al-Qaeda’? May I ask such delegates whether they see any difference between the terrorist organization ‘Al-Qaeda’ and the LTTE? If the only justifiable response to Al-Qaeda terrorism is military action and political isolation, how is it, Mr. President, that certain segments of the international community wishes that the government of Sri Lanka adopt a different approach to terrorism and ‘negotiate’ with terrorists, as opposed to eliminating terrorism through lawful military action?

Mr. President, in view of suggestions made by certain delegates in support of the subjective recommendation made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the establishment of a UN HR field monitoring mission in Sri Lanka, let me take this opportunity to reiterate my government’s opposition to the proposal made by the Madam High Commissioner.

Mr. President, the UN High Commissioner’s proposal which was made without applying previously developed, objective and transparent criteria, is not in our view an efficacious solution to the Human Rights related problems faced by my country. We firmly believe that, what is necessary is to enhance the capacity of existing domestic institutions for the proper monitoring of Human Rights associated problems in Sri Lanka.

We are indeed encouraged by the fact that there is now a growing realization by a wide spectrum of the international community who are sincerely interested in the wellbeing of Sri Lanka, of the inappropriateness and subjective nature of Madam High Commissioner’s recommendation.

The Government of Sri Lanka will with the support of those of the international community who are genuinely interested in peace and security of Sri Lanka, and with the untiring efforts of committed members of the Sri Lankan civil society, seek to develop sustainable solutions to problems faced by our country and the people of Sri Lanka, by apply indigenous solutions for the resolution of our country’s problems.

Mr. President, the mandate of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) was not terminated by the government. Only certain Members of that body have intimated their intention of resigning from it. That institution will continue to function observing the investigations and inquiries being conducted by the Commission of Inquiry appointed to inquire into alleged serious violations of Human Rights. The Commission of Inquiry will also continue to impartially and comprehensively investigate and inquire into cases before the Commission including the killing of the 17 aid workers of the ACF.

Mr. President, I assure you that, Sri Lanka will remain a free and fair sovereign country in which all people of Sri Lanka will live in a united manner in one and free country.

Thank you.