FM sees victory in defeat

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday described the results of the vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council as a victory for Sri Lanka.

 Speaking to the media at the Foreign Ministry shortly after the vote, he said that the session had been a “victory for Sri Lanka because 14 members had abstained so only 22 out of the 47 members supported the resolution.”

Minister Gunawardena said the UN rights council’s censure motion, which 22 voted for and 11 against, was not binding on Colombo.

“It is a waste of money and highly uncalled for. Without the consent and acceptance of the country concerned, it cannot be implemented,” the Minister said.

The money would be better spent on providing “housing for the entire population in the Jaffna peninsula”, he said.

He said Sri Lanka was thankful to the nations that stood with us. China supported Sri Lanka and had stated that it was “interference in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka” and urged members to oppose it. India was among 14 countries which abstained from voting.