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MR tells Pillay incidents isolated
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that some incidents raised by her are “isolated incidents” and that the majority of Sri Lankans continue to coexist peacefully in all parts of the island.
President Rajapaksa also told Pillay that there is a belief among many Sri Lankans that the United Nations is biased in the way it deals with countries, and he said he urged those who voiced these concerns to him not to prejudge the report Pillay is due to issue on Sri Lanka next month.
The President’s office said that Pillay, at her meeting with President Rajapaksa at Temple Trees this afternoon, acknowledged the post-war progress that has been made in Sri Lanka.
“This is a visit long overdue, but I felt that it’s much better that I come so that I’ll be in a position to report on the very many achievements that have been made,” Pillay said. “Firstly, it was very very visible to me in the North how much you have invested in reconstruction.”
Speaking about implementing the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), the High Commissioner said she was very pleased about the establishment of a commission to look into war-time disappearances.
The President and the High Commissioner also spoke about reports that depicted Sri Lanka as a country of religious intolerance, with Pillay saying she was surprised since Sri Lanka is generally known to have a culture of tolerance, the President’s office added. President Rajapaksa however said that these have been isolated incidents and that the majority of Sri Lankans continue to coexist peacefully in all parts of the island.
Pillay also said there has been “good cooperation” between her office and the Sri Lankan government in facilitating her visit and that she had received comprehensive briefings at all her meetings. (Colombo Gazette)
