Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said his government had protected Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, by averting an international mechanism to prosecute violations of international humanitarian law and ensuring foreign judges work under 'Sri Lanka's law and hierarchies', reports Colombo Page.
Mr Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka’s constitution guarantees the country’s sovereignty and that foreign judges would have to work in accordance with Sri Lankan law. He had stated earlier that foreign judges can be consulted but not actually involved in proceedings.
The prime minister went on to say that the UN resolution was not about the conduct of the Sri Lankan military “but their primary concern was the impartiality of our courts".
Speaking at the National Management Conference in Colombo, Mr Wickremesinghe assured a domestic mechanism would take place and that a “compassionate council” would be set up, and would include Buddhist monks.
When questioned over whether the UN resolution would lead to Sri Lankan withdrawing the military from the North and East, the prime minister noted the resolution did not mention any demilitarisation.
Also see our earlier posts:
Ranil consults with military and monks over UN resolution (29 Sep 2015)
Sri Lankan prime minister rejects foreign judges (28 Sep 2015)
Mr Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka’s constitution guarantees the country’s sovereignty and that foreign judges would have to work in accordance with Sri Lankan law. He had stated earlier that foreign judges can be consulted but not actually involved in proceedings.
The prime minister went on to say that the UN resolution was not about the conduct of the Sri Lankan military “but their primary concern was the impartiality of our courts".
Speaking at the National Management Conference in Colombo, Mr Wickremesinghe assured a domestic mechanism would take place and that a “compassionate council” would be set up, and would include Buddhist monks.
When questioned over whether the UN resolution would lead to Sri Lankan withdrawing the military from the North and East, the prime minister noted the resolution did not mention any demilitarisation.
Also see our earlier posts:
Ranil consults with military and monks over UN resolution (29 Sep 2015)
Sri Lankan prime minister rejects foreign judges (28 Sep 2015)
Mangala hails resolution as a victory for Sri Lanka (26 Sep 2015)
Ranil says biggest issue facing Sri Lanka has been removed, resolution mandates domestic mechanism (25 Sep 2015)