Sri Lanka denies reaching agreement with UN over domestic investigation
The Sri Lankan government said responsibility for “the matter of justice and accountability” with regards to investigating human rights violations rests with itself since it was not a signatory to the International Criminal Court, as it denied it had come under pressure to accept any UN conventions.
Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mahishini Colonne also denied that Sri Lanka had reached an agreement with the United Nations to carry out a purely domestic investigation into allegations of human rights violations committed during the final phase of the armed conflict.
Her remarks came after Channel 4 News revealed an internal UN document outlining a purely domestic process for accountability. “I don’t believe there is any agreement of the nature that the Channel 4 portrays,” said Ms Colonne.
“We are party to certain conventions of the United Nations and we have acceded to those conventions, in our own right as a Sovereign State, not because any pressure excerted (sic) by anyone,” she added. “And even on the questions of accountability, the 100 days’ work programme, I think under point 93 states that since we are not a party to the ICC Rome Statute, the matter of justice and accountability and so on, rest with the country concerned - with the Sri Lankans.”
Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mahishini Colonne also denied that Sri Lanka had reached an agreement with the United Nations to carry out a purely domestic investigation into allegations of human rights violations committed during the final phase of the armed conflict.
Her remarks came after Channel 4 News revealed an internal UN document outlining a purely domestic process for accountability. “I don’t believe there is any agreement of the nature that the Channel 4 portrays,” said Ms Colonne.
“We are party to certain conventions of the United Nations and we have acceded to those conventions, in our own right as a Sovereign State, not because any pressure excerted (sic) by anyone,” she added. “And even on the questions of accountability, the 100 days’ work programme, I think under point 93 states that since we are not a party to the ICC Rome Statute, the matter of justice and accountability and so on, rest with the country concerned - with the Sri Lankans.”
