By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island

Appreciating Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, PC, for challenging the Office of Human Rights Commissioner’s report on Sri Lanka in respect of several contentious issues, including the highly exaggerated UN claim of 40,000 civilian deaths in the final phase of the war in 2009 and Mannar mass graves, Joint Opposition leader Dinesh Gunawardena, MP, yesterday, said that the UNP government owed an explanation as to why Sri Lanka co-sponsored a fresh resolution on the basis of much flawed report.

Addressing the media at the Sri Lanka Foundation (SLF), Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) leader Gunawardena asked why Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva Ambassador A. L.A. Azeez accepted the latest declaration meant to extend the original resolution co-sponsored by the government in Oct 2015. Gunawardena described Minister Marapana’s statement and the acceptance of the latest resolution inimical to Sri Lanka as contradictory actions of a government pursuing a dangerous agenda.

The MEP leader said that the government’s strategy in Geneva should be examined against the backdrop of Ambassador Azeez receiving instructions to go ahead with the latest resolution from top Finance Ministry consultant Mano Tittawella

Mano Tittawella is the Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms (SCRM), which is entrusted with coordinating transitional justice mechanisms in Sri Lanka. Office of Missing Persons, Truth Seeking Commission, Accountability Mechanism and Office for Reparations come under the purview of SCRM. The outfit formed by the cabinet of ministers on Dec 18, 2015 functions under the Prime Minister’s Office.

MP Gunawardena alleged that the government went ahead with the latest proposal without President Maithripala Sirisena’s sanction. According to MP Gunawardena, Azeez, on behalf of the government had endorsed the resolution at the behest of Tittawella without proper consultations.

Pointing out that the High Commissioner’s report had been gravely flawed in many respects, MP Gunawardena said that the former Michelle Bachelet acted irresponsibly as regards Sri Lanka. But the failure on the part of the government to properly defend the country in Geneva couldn’t be justified under any circumstances, MP Gunawardena said. The Foreign Ministry should explain as to why disclosure made by Lord Naseby in the House of Lords as well other reports cited by Minister Marapana weren’t used before in Geneva in Sri Lanka’s defence, MP Gunawardena said.

MP Gunawardena pointed out that Lord Nasesy’s disclosure in Oct 2017 based on wartime dispatches from the British High Commission in Colombo cleared the Sri Lankan military of war crimes. MP Gunawardena said that the government owed an explanation as to why the Vanni death toll referred to in the UN Panel of Experts’ report wasn’t challenged during 2018.

JO parliamentary group leader appreciated constant The Island coverage of the Geneva issue with the focus on the stunning disclosure made by the Conservative member.

MP Gunawardena faulted the Foreign Ministry for the current situation. The Foreign Ministry, since the change of government had followed policy contrary to Sri Lanka’s national interests, thereby placing the country at the mercy of Western powers.

Those who couldn’t stomach the LTTE’s battlefield defeat in the hands of the Sri Lankan military worked overtime to haul Sri Lanka’s military and political leadership before international war crimes court, MP Gunawardena said. Following the change of government, the new administration co-sponsored Oct 2015 Resolution meant to set up various mechanisms, including hybrid court comprising foreign judges and other foreign personnel, such as lawyers.

MP Gunawardena recalled how the then Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva rejected a ruling given by a foreign court in respect pf a domestic matter during Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s presidency.

The JO heavyweight said that Sri Lanka shouldn’t be penalized for eradicating terrorism. The country was in deepening crisis due to short-sighted policies of the UNP, bent on undermining national security.

Asked by The Island as to why the JO failed to take up the Geneva issue in the Sectoral Oversight Committee handing foreign affairs matters, MP Gunawardena said though it wasn’t taken up there, there were two special debates on the issue. MP Gunawardena alleged that both Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Foreign Minister deceived the parliament regarding the Geneva matter.

UPFA MP attorney-at-law Sisira Jayakody said that Oversight Committees had been packed by Tamil National alliance (TNA) and JVP lawmakers at the time TNA leader R. Sampanthan functioned as the Leader of the Opposition. The UNP and its associates deprived the genuine Opposition of an opportunity to take up contentious issues, MP Jayakody said, alleging the parliamentary process was manipulated to suit the despicable strategies of the UNP-led coalition.

Messrs Gunawardena and Jayakody alleged that the UNP’s response to international intervention couldn’t be compared with that of any other country. The UNP actively supported and encouraged foreign interference in foreign policy matters regardless of JO’s opposition, they said.

Tags: UNHRS