Colombo: The United States has announced it wants to sponsor a resolution at next month’s U.N. human rights session that supports Sri Lankan government in conducting its own investigation into alleged war crimes.
“The U.S has announced it will be offering a resolution at the September session of the Human Rights Council. It will be a resolution of collaboration with the government of Sri Lanka and with other key stake holders,” Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal said. The announcement of a joint resolution with the Sri Lankan government presents a major shift by Washington on the South Asian island nation. America was working towards adopting three resolutions at the U.N. human rights session on Sri Lanka, the last of which last year called for an international independent investigation into the alleged abuses.
Biswal said, however, the U.S. now supports a local investigation promised by the new Sri Lanka government of President Maithripala Sirisena. She did not say what the new resolution would contain, but said it will follow a report by the U.N. Human Rights Council scheduled to be released next month.
