SJB: GoSL may be held accountable for ‘economic crimes’

By Saman Indrajith

The Sri Lankan government would be held accountable for the “economic crimes” perpetrated against the people, at the Geneva UNHRC sessions scheduled to commence on 12 Sept., the SJB said yesterday.

Chief Opposition Whip and SJB Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella, addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo, said that the UNHRC would table a resolution against Sri Lanka at the Geneva summit and it would be further detrimental to the national interests. “For the first time in UNHRC history this term ‘accountability for economic crimes’ is being used.  The resolution has already been sent to the Foreign Ministry in Colombo. It recognizes the economic crimes and accuses the governments of committing such crimes on people.

The report acknowledges that there had been political, economic and social uprisings and disturbances in the recent past. Yet it clearly identifies accountability for some of the economic decisions that had been made during the recent past. Sri Lanka is held accountable for those crimes at the Geneva summit. So far, we have been accused only of committing human rights violations. With these charges the Foreign Ministry will find it hard there in Geneva,” Kiriella said.

Kiriella said that the report on Sri Lanka which was to be presented at the 51st session in Geneva scheduled to commence on Sept 12 for Lanka to review and comment. “The report finds fault with the Sri Lankan government for not delivering its commitments during the past 12 months. The report also highlights the use of Prevention of Terrorism Act against unarmed protesters and holding students such as Wasantha Mudalige in detention. The government will have to respond to these accusations and the whole affair is going to be very unfavourable to us and we would be further isolated by the international community,” Kiriella said.SJB MP Dr Harsha de Silva also addressed the media.