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Sri Lanka is being humiliated at UN claims former navy admiral

A former Sri Lankan navy rear admiral slammed the current government for allowing Sri Lanka to be “humiliated” at the United Nations Human Rights Council, where a resolution has been passed mandating an accountability mechanism for violations of international law.

Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, a former member of parliament, criticised the Sri Lankan government for not hitting back against reports of human rights abuses committed by Sri Lankan troops.

“It is visible that Sri Lanka is being humiliated and tarnished on account of unsubstantiated war crimes accusations by the UNHRC resolution 30/1,” he told the Daily Mirror. “But it seems that the government and the rest of the political parties are not concerned with the issue whereas the government has categorically announced its stance on the Trump’s declaration to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel”.

“That’s pathetic,” he added.

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His comments come as senior Sri Lankan leaders, including the president Maithripala Sirisena, have repeatedly reiterated their opposition to an accountability mechanism that will incorporate foreign judges – a move that was mandated by a 2015 UN resolution. Mr Sirisena in particular has stressed on numerous occasions that he would not allow Sri Lankan troops to be tried before a war crimes tribunal.

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