(UTV | COLOMBO) – The Government of Sri Lanka has sent its response to the Office of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) with respect to Council High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet’s recently-published report criticising the Government with a set of warnings, as well as calls for targeted sanctions from the other States.
Public Security Minister Dr. Sarath Weerasekera told the State-run Daily News that the High Commissioner of the UNHRC has apparently fashioned the report of abuse against Sri Lanka based on the “Fundamentally-flawed” Darusman Report of 2011.
High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet has overreached her jurisdiction and has interfered with the independence and sovereignty of Sri Lanka by releasing this new report, he said. She is in no position to challenge appointments made by a President of a sovereign country and interfere with its internal affairs and independence, Dr. Weerasekara added.
The report stated, “Since 2020, the President has appointed at least 28 serving or former Military and Intelligence Personnel to key administrative posts. The High Commissioner is particularly troubled that these appointments include Senior Military Officials who have been alleged in United Nations reports to be implicated in alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the final years of the conflict, including Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, as Army Chief (In August 2019) and Major General (Retired) Kamal Gunaratne, as Secretary to the Ministry of Defence (In November 2019).”
“She must be advised not to overreach her scope of authority in this manner,” Dr. Weeraskera said.