The main opposition party in the Sri Lankan Parliament skipped the patriotism trap and asked some hard questions on Tuesday, day-one of the two-day debate on the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution against Sri Lanka.
The UNHRC resolution asks Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of its own commission, constituted to look into the war years and make recommendations so that the same issues do not sow the seed for more discontent. The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission had suggested, among other things, investigation into the charges of human rights violations.
Joseph Michael Perera of the UNP wanted to know which parts of the LLRC report will be implemented and which the government would not implement
Lakshman Kiriella, UNP MP, who seconded the motion calling for the debate, said if the government had given appropriate assurances to Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna, India would have voted against the resolution. Minister Wimal Weerawansa accused Tamil Nadu politicians, especially former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, of dreaming of creating an Eelam in Sri Lanka. It appeared that countries like the U.S. were in support of this, he said.
Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, leader of the JVP parliamentary group who introduced the motion, said there was a need to study the foreign policies of countries such as India and the United States more closely.
