Sri Lanka has already extended an invitation to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, to visit the island and observe the progress towards comprehensive reconciliation, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said.

Addressing the 19th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva today (27), he added that there is already a senior advisor of the High Commissioner’s office working in Sri Lanka from as far back as 2005.

Samarasinghe, the Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation, stated that in the light of this commitment by Sri Lanka, “there is no justification or urgency whatsoever” in floating a resolution calling for the implementation of the LLRC’s recommendations and engagement with the High Commissioner, when this has already been effectively undertaken by the Government.

He stated that Sri Lank has also continued to engage in Geneva and at other international fora, and briefed the international community about the country’s progress, problems and solutions that it has devised.

We have hosted several high profile officials from several countries to visit Sri Lanka to view the reconstruction work, the Minister said. “We continue to engage the international community by inviting them to witness first-hand the progress being made on the ground.”