The External Affairs Minister, G.L Peiris, reiterated Sunday, that the Sri Lankan government would not accept international pressure and demands from the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Addressing a parliamentary debate on Sri Lankan external affairs, G.L Peiris, said,

“We are not about to bow down to the plans to take our country before Geneva very six months. We are not ready to bow down to pressures of this sort."

Arguing that an international probe into war crimes and crimes against humanity would undermine Sri Lankan 'prestige', he added,

“We have brilliant, intelligent and elite experts. We have nothing to hide. We are refusing to agree to an international probe because Sri Lankan history is our pride, our prestige and our national treasure.”

“We are a country with a great historical past. We always should protect and safeguard the good name of our country.”

Disregarding calls to ratify the Rome Statute, Peiris said,

“We are not prepared to operate a foreign policy in a way to create unwanted and unwarranted issues.”

Peiris' dismissive remarks come as calls for an international inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council in March grow.

They also reflect similar sentiments within the Sri Lankan opposition party, the UNP, whose rising star Sajith Premadasa had called for cross-party unity to defeat any upcoming resolution at the UNHRC. See here.

See also:

UNP slams Rajapaksa over possibility of int'l inquiry (24 Nov 2013)

UNP 'opposed to international inquiry' (19 Nov 2013)

UNP united with government against foreign intervention – Premadasa (17 Nov 2013)