(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the government to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 30/1, co-sponsored by the United States and Sri Lanka in 2015.
Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardena addressing a press briefing held today (20th) to announce cabinet decisions said the cabinet during its meeting held yesterday approved the proposal tabled by the Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to withdraw from the UNHRC resolution.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka will withdraw UN resolutions 30/1 and 40/1 adopted by the UNHRC in 2015 and 2019 respectively.
Minister Gunawardena is expected to announce the government’s decision in parliament today.
UN Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1 on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, was adopted by consensus with the co-sponsorship of Sri Lanka in 2015.
Resolution 30/1 sets out a comprehensive package of judicial and non-judicial measures necessary to advance accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, as well as strengthen protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Sri Lanka at the 40th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva last year co-sponsored the resolution 40/1 reaffirming its commitment to the reconciliation process and commitments articulated in the UN Resolutions 34/1 and 30/1 it cosponsored in 2017 and 2015 respectively.
However, the current government has concluded that implementing the resolutions under the current political climate is inconsistent with its political policy and the two resolutions seek broader devolution of power that would transcend beyond the existing constitutional framework.
