The government of Srilanka has decided to close down many Sri Lankan embassies, maintained in the European countries. This decision was taken by the government,with the intention of making a significant change in the foreign service, after the Geneva Human Rights Convention. The Sri Lankan embassies in the European countries which were unable to perform a methodological service to the development of the diplomatic rapports with Sri Lanka are due to be closed down. However, Sri Lankan embassies in several European countries including U.K. and France will be further activated, while the embassies in Poland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands and Austria will be closed down.
Reports also says that, instead of the embassies removed from the above European countries, the government is intending to open new embassies in South Africa, Latin America, and many other friendly Asian countries.
USA and Srilanka.
The resolution which was submitted by U.S.A. to the U.N.Human Rights Convention in Geneva, was passed with a majority of 9 votes.
24 Votes were received in favour of the resolution, while 15 votes were received against it.
Eight countries have refrained from voting.
Fifteen countries including China, Russia, Thailand, Cuba, Indonesia, Bangladesh,Maldives,Ecuador,Kirghistan, Philippines, Uganda, Angola, Qatar,Saudi Arabia,and Kuwait have voted in favour of Sri Lanka, while, India has voted against Sri Lanka, as earlier mentioned.
UN call SL govt to stop intimidation
The High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay has warned that there must be no reprisals against Sri Lankan human rights activists.
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Rupert Colville quoting Ms Pillay said that the High Commissioner for Human rights has issued a clear call to the Sri Lanka government to defend human rights defenders.
He said UNHCR and other bodies would be monitoring the situation, and even in Geneva there was an atmosphere of shock due to the behaviour of the Sri Lankan delegation. "The delegations of other countries were aware of what was going on and, it was very visible", he said.
Unacceptable
During the Human Rights Council session, he said there had been an unacceptable level of threats, harassment and intimidation directed at Sri Lankan activists who came over to Geneva to engage in the debate even by the members of Sri Lanka delegation .
"Even people who had no connection with Sri Lanka human rights issues were also intimidated. A camera was thrust on one of our staff members and photograph taken," he said. There were 71-members in the official Sri Lankan government delegation added Rupert Colville.
(lankacnews) | 
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