Sri Lanka seeks equal treatment from UN

Sri Lanka, under attack for human rights abuses, on Thursday sought equal treatment from the UN for all countries.

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said there was a perception in Sri Lanka about the lack of objectivity and fairness in the treatment meted out to Colombo, reports Xinhua.

The minister said Sri Lanka accepts constructive and justified criticism but resents vicious and baseless positions.

He made the comments when he met visiting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, the foreign ministry said.

Sri Lanka defeated the Tamil Tigers in May 2009 after 30 years of war but was accused of committing war crimes in the process.

On the aspect of accountability, the minister highlighted the action taken by the law enforcement authorities.

Addressing allegations of disappearances, Peiris explained that the ministry of justice has formulated a draft amendment to the penal code to criminalise enforced disappearances.

With regard to Pillay’s reference to the last days of the armed conflict, Peiris stated that it was factually known that the Tamil Tigers ruthlessly annihilated people trying to escape from their clutches.

-IANS