The government says it has not been issued with a deadline by the UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to address concerns over
human rights.
External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatillake Amunugama said that the media had misunderstood what Pillay said at the Council when she presented an oral report on Sri Lanka last week.
Pillay had said in her report that if the government does not address human rights concerns by March 2014 she believes the international community will have a duty to establish its own inquiry mechanisms.
In a statement on Sri Lanka, which was delivered to the UN Human Rights Council by the Deputy High Commissioner Flavia Pansieri, Pillay said that she had not detected any new or comprehensive effort to independently or credibly investigate the allegations which have been of concern to the Human Rights Council.
Amunugama however said that all Pillay meant was that if the government meets her expectations then it will be included in her report to the Council in March 2014.
She cannot set a deadline. We have implemented most recommendations in the LLRC report. There are some shortcomings which we will deal with accordingly, he said.
The External Affairs Ministry Secretary said he did not believe there will be an international probe on Sri Lanka.
He also said that Sri Lanka will continue to work with the UN and its agencies.
External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatillake Amunugama said that the media had misunderstood what Pillay said at the Council when she presented an oral report on Sri Lanka last week.
Pillay had said in her report that if the government does not address human rights concerns by March 2014 she believes the international community will have a duty to establish its own inquiry mechanisms.
In a statement on Sri Lanka, which was delivered to the UN Human Rights Council by the Deputy High Commissioner Flavia Pansieri, Pillay said that she had not detected any new or comprehensive effort to independently or credibly investigate the allegations which have been of concern to the Human Rights Council.
Amunugama however said that all Pillay meant was that if the government meets her expectations then it will be included in her report to the Council in March 2014.
She cannot set a deadline. We have implemented most recommendations in the LLRC report. There are some shortcomings which we will deal with accordingly, he said.
The External Affairs Ministry Secretary said he did not believe there will be an international probe on Sri Lanka.
He also said that Sri Lanka will continue to work with the UN and its agencies.