SLPP Opposed UNHRC Sponsored Federal Constitution and Restructuring Armed Forces

Chairman of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Prof. G.L. Peiris said, that his party opposed the continuing international supervision constitutional making process and restructuring of armed forces in terms of Geneva – based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) dictates.

Prof. Peiris alleged that the government was planning to take wartime Navy Commander Admiral (retd) Wasantha Karannagoda, and several other Navy personnel ahead of the Geneva sessions scheduled to commence on Monday the 25th February 2019.

Prof. Peiris also criticized Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over seeking cabinet approval for setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in line with 2015 Geneva Resolution. Having co-sponsored Geneva Resolutions in Oct 2015 and March 2017 (Second one was meant to secure two years to implement the first), the UNP government was now struggling to fulfill controversial obligations.

Prof. Peiris said that a new Resolution was to be moved in accordance with an overall strategy to address accountability issues. The SLPP Chairman faulted the government for not exploiting the US pullout from the UNHRC in June 2018 and the disclosure made by Lord Naseby in Oct 2017 with regard to war crimes allegations.

Prof. Peiris alleged that the government was determined to pursue a strategy meant to appease the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the Tamil Diaspora and some Western powers hence the decision not to properly defend armed forces in Geneva.

Sources reported that pro-LTTE Tamil terrorist TNA politician M A Sumanthirarn is being included to the delegation to representing the government team.

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