By Robin Millard
GENEVA – The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) called on Sri Lanka to get a grip on its economic crisis and prosecute corruption by public officials, in a resolution passed Thursday (6).
The United Nations’ top rights body voted 20-seven to keep up its focus on the South Asian island nation. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told the chamber in Geneva that Colombo “categorically rejects” the text.
The resolution urges the Sri Lankan government “to address the ongoing economic crisis, including by investigating and, where warranted, prosecuting corruption, including where committed by public and former public officials”.
The council voiced concern at the human rights impact of the economic crisis, violence against peaceful protesters and called for a “comprehensive accountability process” for all rights violations and abuses.
The 19-point resolution was brought forward by 37 mostly European countries.
Sri Lanka’s 22 million population has endured acute shortages of food, fuel and medicines along with hyperinflation and lengthy electricity blackouts since late last year.
The island ran out of foreign exchange and defaulted on its $51 billion foreign debt in mid-April. It has since been negotiating for a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
The crisis led to widespread protests that saw president Gotabaya Rajapaksa toppled in mid-July over allegations of mismanagement and corruption.
New President Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken a hardline against protesters who brought down Rajapaksa and used the tough Prevention of Terrorism Act to detain three student leaders.
Sabry made Sri Lanka’s case for a ‘no’ vote in Geneva in person.
“We strongly object to the draft resolution pronouncing on domestic, economic and financial policy matters,” he said.
-Agence France-Presse
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