Mar 03, Geneva: Canada today expressed regret over the unwillingness of the Sri Lankan government to constructively engage on the substance of various reports on alleged human rights violations and abuses or to take genuine steps for reconciliation and accountability.
Addressing the high level segment of the 25th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva Monday, Canada's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Consular Lynne Yelich called for the Council's support for an international inquiry into Sri Lanka.
"Previous mechanisms have regrettably remained secret, partial or unfulfilled, and the continued inability to acknowledge what has occurred, combined with increasing rights violations and abuses, will not only continue to damage the rule of law and democracy inthis vibrant country but will risk undermining economic gains and a return to instability,"the Canadian Minister said.
"In the absence of credible actions by the Government of Sri Lanka, Canada supports the call for an international inquiry mechanism," her statement said further.
Sri Lankan President recently charged that the western countries are working against Sri Lanka to solicit the votes of the pro-separatist Tamil diaspora in those countries and Britain and Canada are supporting the US resolution because of the pressure from the Tamil Diaspora in those countries.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen harper boycotted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo last Novemebr over Sri Lanka's alleged human rights abuses.