Published 10:59 Geneva

In a vote that took place today in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a draft resolution (22/L1) on Sri Lanka entitled - 'Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka'.

Twenty-five member states voted in favour of the resolution, whilst 13 votes against and 8 member states abstained. Gabon's vote did not register on the UNHRC's live voting screen.

The thirteen against: Congo, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Phillippines, Qatar, Thailand, Uganda, UAE, Venezuela.

The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), called the UN Human Rights Council latest resolution on Sri Lanka 22/1 a 'missed opportunity' but that the 'adoption of another resolution this year signifies the Council’s engagement and commitment to follow through Resolution 19/2.'

In a statement released immediately after the Council voted, CTC said:

Confirmation of final vote details on the adoption of resolution 22/1 by the UN Human Rights Council on Sri Lanka:

25 member states voted YES: Argentina, Austria, Benin, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Italy, Libya, Montenegro, Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Sierra Leone, Spain, Switzerland, USA.

13 member states voted NO: Congo, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Phillippines, Qatar, Thailand, Uganda, UAE, Venezuela.

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has called on Sri Lanka to take “meaningful action” on longstanding issues such as reconciliation and accountability.

See full statement below.

Former Sri Lankan Army General Sarath Fonseka has claimed that the LTTE had used Indian army uniforms asserting that this explains freshly uncovered evidence of war crimes, and maintained that he was willing to answer any questions over the conduct of the war.

Speaking to reporters in Colombo, Fonseka said,

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has officialy opened the country's second international airport, constructed in his hometown of Hambantota after a $209 million Chinese loan.

State television showed Rajapaksa arriving at Hambantota airport on a state-owned Sri Lankan Airlines flight, with a 213-member delegation.

Teresita Schaffer, a former US ambassador to Sri Lanka, said,

“This recent huge increase in [Chinese] money was very convenient for Rajapaksa, who wanted to show he didn’t need the west and all its talk of human rights abuses”.

Addressing a gathering at the airport, Rajapaksa stated,

"We need international funding. We have not hesitated for external loans and we will not hesitate in future as well... We have been criticised for taking loans to build this airport... The loan was not for consumption, but to build infrastructure. We will build more power stations, highways and ports".

"It is not possible to build internationally important development projects such as this solely from internal revenue. It is true that we launch most development projects from the revenue of our own country, but we need international assistance, too. This is a practice followed by other countries too. It is necessary to obtain loans to build a country. We too obtain such loans and assistance and build many things for the development of the country. Therefore, I express the gratitude of our people and our country to all of you".

Welcoming the adoption of the UNHRC resolution 22/1 on Sri Lanka, the leader of the TNA, R Sampanthan, praised India's support to it.

Asked for TNA's position on the passing of the resolution in an interview to BBC Tamil, R Sampanthan, said:

Sri Lankan authorities have denied entry to a British tourist into the country over a Buddha tattoo on his arm, deemed to be ‘disrespectful’.

42-year-old Antony Ratcliffe from Nottingham was “shocked and upset” over the decision, over what he said was “inoffensive” body art meant to be a tribute.

Speaking to the BBC he said,