UNHRC resolutions 30/1 & 40/1 infringes Sri Lanka's sovereignty; violates basic structure of constitution -Dinesh Gunawardena

COLOMBO (News 1st):- Sri Lanka withdraws from the co-sponsorship of UNHRC resolutions 30/1 and 40/1 as the country cannot carry out its obligations within the constitution, Minister of Foreign Relations, Dinesh Gunawardena, formally informing the Council Members on the Government’s decision said on Wednesday. “Sri Lanka’s decision to withdraw from co-sponsorship of Resolution 40/1 on ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ which also incorporates and builds on preceding Resolutions 30/1 of October 2015 and 34/1 of March 2017”, said Gunawardena at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. “Constitutionally, the resolution seeks to cast upon Sri Lanka obligations that cannot be carried out within its constitutional framework and it infringes the sovereignty of people of Sri Lanka and violates the basic structure of the Constitution. This is another factor that has prompted Sri Lanka to reconsider its position on co-sponsorship”, He further added. Resolution 40/1 of March 2019 is on ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’, and it incorporates and builds on preceding Resolutions 30/1 of October 2015 and 34/1 of March 2017. Minister Gunawardena will also respond to the Oral Update on Sri Lanka by the High Commissioner tomorrow, and also meet with the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, during his stay in Geneva.   Script by Zahida Rizvi