Protest against UNHRC in Geneva

Because the Sri Lankan Govt. has co-sponsored the resolution, even Russia and China will hesitate to support us

With the participation of a large number of Sri Lankans living overseas, a protest organised by the Global Sri Lankans Forum (GSLF) was held on Sunday outside the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland against the UN Human Rights Council’s maltreatment of Sri Lanka.

GSLF representatives from Italy, Britain, Denmark, Germany, France, Monaco, Sweden and Switzerland took part in the demonstration while retired rear-admiral Sarath Weerasekara, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa and Anuradha Yahampath, who were in Geneva also reported to have attended the protest.

Dr. Godahewa addressing the protesters said the Sri Lankan Government had committed a grave offense by co-sponsoring the 2015 US resolution without studying its contents.

“Because the Sri Lankan government has co-sponsored the resolution, even Russia and China who have veto power will hesitate to support us if a proposal was made to the UN Defence Council to impose sanctions on Sri Lanka.the GSLF has taken up the responsibility to show the world that the majority of Sri Lankans reject the UN resolution on Sri Lanka, though it was endorsed by the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Weerasekara said the GSLF had decided to take legal action against the UNHRC saying the method used by the government to co-sponsor the resolution and to pass the resolution without a debate, was against accepted procedures.

GSLF President Wasantha Keerthirathna said the GSLF, which was launched in Italy three years ago, had expanded its network to many other countries today. He invited Sri Lankans living abroad to join them to overcome challenges faced by the nation in the international arena.