Sri Lanka tells international community to look with fresh perspective

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena has called upon the international community to look at his country with a fresh perspective and allow the nation to solve its problems on its own.

Addressing the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, the President said Sri Lanka is taking action to consolidate peace and develop the economy, and such a nation deserves the support and understanding of the international community.

He said that as an independent country, they do not want any foreign power to exert influence so that the right of the Sri Lankan people to find solutions to their problems is respected. Sirisena made the comments in wake of UNHCR resolution on Sri Lanka making it binding to address war crimes committed during the three decade long ethnic war which ended in 2009.

Sri Lanka has been slow on implementing the resolution which called for setting up of truth and reconciliation commission, fixing of reparations for the war victims, opening of office of missing persons, bringing new anti-terrorism law etc. President Sirisena had earlier said that he will submit proposals at UN aimed at solving issues and provide relief without causing harm to the pride of the security forces and safeguard the independence, sovereignty and national security.

Human rights organisations and Tamil groups have been demanding probe of security force members accused of willfully violating human rights but Sri Lankan government has said they will not put their war heroes to international scrutiny. President Sirisena in his address pointed out that the most ruthless terrorists were defeated by the armed forces and the nations honor the valiant soldiers who safeguarded the unity and sovereignty of the nation with utmost commitment.