Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister GL Peiris said in parliament on Wednesday that Sri Lanka could have easily avoided action at the UN Human Rights Council, if it had given in to international pressure, but that they cannot give in due to “national pride”.

He said that Sri Lanka would never accept an international inquiry and compromise the sovereignty of its people, and although countries like the US, the UK or blocs like the EU could impose sanctions on Sri Lanka, this was unlikely.

Peiris stressed that the UN was not in a position to impose any sanctions on Sri Lanka as Security Council members China and Russia would “no doubt” veto such a move.

“The EU takes decisions en-block in Brussels and 17 countries vote together on any issue at UNHRC or at the EU Parliament. Therefore Sri Lanka is at a disadvantage because the EU has already has taken a decision on its voting at the UNHRC,” he said.

“Who is suggesting punitive actions against Sri Lanka on alleged human rights violations after all? She is none other than UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Navaneethem Pillay who termed the humanitarian operation that was launched to eradicate separatist terrorism as ‘an attempt to persecute Tamils under the guise of terrorism’ and added giving the responsibility to probe Sri Lanka on alleged HR violations was like ‘Horage Ammagen Pena Ahanawa’ or asking prophecy from the mother of the thief. Do we have confidence in this lady?”