Courtesy TheIslandƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  04-03-2012

In a persuasive right of reply to the Statement made by U.S Under Secretary of State, Maria Otero, Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Ambassador/Permanent Representative Tamara Kunanayakam warned the Human Rights Council that the hypocrisy and double standards displayed by the United States in its treatment of countries such as Sri Lanka would, if encouraged, gravely affect the credibility of the Council and undermine its legitimacy.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ She regretted that the Under Secretary had thought it fit to unilaterally develop and set forth values that would guide the workings of the Council, departing from its founding principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non selectivity.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Reacting to the Under SecretaryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s claim that the international community had to wait nearly three years for action, and insinuations that the LLRC recommendations will not be implemented unless action ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”nowƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is taken by the Council, Ambassador Kunanayakam wondered at the impatience of the United States.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Only two and a half months had elapsed since the release of the LLRC report and barely three years since the end of a thirty year war against terrorism and separatism. She regretted that the significant action undertaken by the Government had been ignored, although widely recognised and commended by the international community.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The U.S did not exercise its right of reply to Ambassador KunanayakamƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s statement.