Unjust value-judgments about Sri Lanka had arisen from the report of the Panel of Experts appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, External Affairs Minister Professor G.L.Peiris said.
The Minister, who is on a visit to Paris, reiterated that the report is deeply flawed, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris said today (Thursday).
“Among its most indefensible features are the opaque modalities of gathering evidence, involving recognition of anonymity for those providing vital information for a period of thirty years, arriving at the conclusion that there is credible evidence of grave wrongdoing by the Sri Lankan State when the Panel itself admits that it had no authority to investigate, and in fact did not investigate, and the presentation of unfounded allegations in the form of a narrative, the accuracy of which the Panel declares itself unable to vouch for,” Professor G.L.Peiris said.
He said that while Sri Lanka, which has been a member of the world body since 1952, is firmly resolved to work with the UN in a spirit of amity and candour, the UN system must not only function with total impartiality and objectivity, but must be seen manifestly to be doing so.
“This is the essential condition for retaining unqualified confidence on the part of the international community as a whole. This consideration highlights the importance of a sharper focus on balanced representation for the different geographical regions in structures of the UN,” the Minister added.
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