U.S. quitting UNHRC could be advantageous to Sri Lanka – Rajitha

The government said yesterday that the decision of the United States of America to quit the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC),could be advantageous to Sri Lanka, with regard to accountability issues arising out of the war with the LTTE.

Answering questions at the weekly cabinet press briefing, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that a powerful country like the U.S. leaving the UNHRC, could ease pressure on Sri Lanka, but that did not mean human rights should be violated.

“As person who believes in civil rights and also because we are signatories to Human Rights Conventions, I think we should not wait until strictures are passed on us by international bodies, but ensure the protection of unalienable rights at all times”, he noted adding that the problems began after former President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the U.S. that the provisions of the first UNHRC Resolution against Sri Lanka, would be implemented in full.

The U.S. pulled out of the UNHRC on Tuesday, calling it a”hypocritical and self-serving organisation that displayed unending hostility towards Israel”.