Sri Lanka's opposition parties are to abstain from voting in a parliamentary debate on whether the country should cooperate with the international inquiry into mass atrocities, reports Colombo Page.
According to the news source, the UNP MP, and party whip, John Amaratunga, stated that the vote was "comical since the government has already rejected the investigation at diplomatic level", whilst the JVP described the vote as "nothing but a political gimmick of the government."
The parliamentary debate is set to take place on June 17 or 18.
On Tuesday, nine parliamentarians from the ruling SLFP, submitted a motion against the investigation, stating that the inquiry was "a challenge to the sovereignty and pride of the country."
Last week the UNP, equally concerned about foreign interference and the pride of the state and its military, called on the government to cooperate with the probe.
“It would not only be an injustice to the valiant soldiers who sacrificed so much for this country but a betrayal of all our people who will have to suffer the consequences of international action,” the UNP said.
The JVP on Friday reiterated its opposition to the international inquiry, putting forward an amended version of the government's proposals for a domestic inquiry.
According to the news source, the UNP MP, and party whip, John Amaratunga, stated that the vote was "comical since the government has already rejected the investigation at diplomatic level", whilst the JVP described the vote as "nothing but a political gimmick of the government."
The parliamentary debate is set to take place on June 17 or 18.
On Tuesday, nine parliamentarians from the ruling SLFP, submitted a motion against the investigation, stating that the inquiry was "a challenge to the sovereignty and pride of the country."
Last week the UNP, equally concerned about foreign interference and the pride of the state and its military, called on the government to cooperate with the probe.
“It would not only be an injustice to the valiant soldiers who sacrificed so much for this country but a betrayal of all our people who will have to suffer the consequences of international action,” the UNP said.
The JVP on Friday reiterated its opposition to the international inquiry, putting forward an amended version of the government's proposals for a domestic inquiry.