Sri Lanka Reaffirms National Sovereignty and Rejects UN Human Rights Mechanisms

Sri Lanka has rejected UNHRC Resolutions 46/1, 51/1, and 57/1, asserting national sovereignty in human rights matters. During the 58th UNHRC session, the country criticized the inconsistent application of human rights principles and emphasized the importance of domestic processes for addressing rights issues. The government’s strategy includes promoting inclusive economic growth and addressing past grievances through its proposed truth and reconciliation commission.

Sri Lanka has firmly rejected Resolutions 46/1, 51/1, and 57/1, along with the external evidence gathering mechanism established by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The country maintains that leveraging national ownership alongside gradual reforms is the most viable path toward transformative change. During the 58th Session of the council, Sri Lanka expressed its disappointment with the inconsistency in human rights applications, which has hindered trust in the human rights framework, according to Ambassador Himalee Subashini Arunatilaka.

Ambassador Arunatilaka asserted that Sri Lanka consistently opposes country-specific resolutions that lack the consent of the nation involved. She emphasized, “Sri Lanka has reiterated our rejection of Resolutions 46/1, 51/1, and 57/1 and the external evidence gathering mechanism… set up using these divisive and intrusive resolutions.”

The Sri Lankan government described the external evidence mechanism as an unprecedented infringement on its sovereignty, arguing that it undermines the Council’s founding tenets of impartiality and objectivity. The ambassador noted that no sovereign country can accept an external mechanism that conflicts with its Constitution and presupposes the efficacy of its own judicial processes.

Concerns surrounding the budgetary impact of this external mechanism have also been raised, particularly as the United Nations grapples with financial constraints. The government remains dedicated to addressing human rights and reconciliation challenges through domestic avenues while emphasizing collaboration with the Human Rights Council and associated bodies.

In a commitment to multilateral cooperation, Sri Lanka aims to foster peace, prosperity, and human rights for all citizens. The government has prioritized inclusive economic growth to ensure benefits reach all societal levels. Promoting the rule of law will be essential to sustaining this economic development and improving social welfare.

Ambassador Arunatilaka outlined the government’s commitment to:
1. Protecting democracy and the human rights of all citizens, especially regarding historical grievances.
2. Ensuring that domestic processes are credible and independent within the constitutional framework.
3. Carefully examining and enhancing the work of the proposed truth and reconciliation commission to address violence stemming from racism and religious extremism.

Economic strategies include combating rural poverty, launching the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative for social and environmental recovery, and developing a robust digital economy to encourage innovation. The government is dedicated to assisting all citizens impacted by conflict, aligned with its pledge for sustainable peace and development.

Sri Lanka’s firm stance against external human rights resolutions highlights its emphasis on national sovereignty and the prioritization of domestic reforms. The nation’s commitment to addressing human rights through its own processes underscores a desire for constructive engagement with global human rights mechanisms while maintaining its constitutional integrity. The government is focused on fostering inclusive economic growth and reconciliation, striving to utilize its resources effectively for the benefit of all citizens, particularly in conflict-affected regions.

Original Source: www.adaderana.lk