India asks government of Sri Lanka and Tamil party to ‘engage constructively’

      Responding to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay’s oral update on Sri Lanka, India Thursday asked the government of Sri Lanka and the major Tamil party Tamil National Alliance (TNA), to “engage constructively” to address the Tamil issue.

Delivering its response at the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, India said it would encourage the government and the Tamil party to engage constructively, “in a spirit of partnership and mutual accommodation so that the needs of the people of the Northern Province are addressed with a sense of urgency and purpose.”

“Such a cooperative approach will pave the way for a broad-based, inclusive and meaningful reconciliation and political settlement,” India said.

While recalling that the High Commissioner has recognized the government’s achievements in the fields of reconstruction, demining, and settlement , India pointed out that the High Commissioner has also underlined the need for a more “holistic” approach to address the immediate needs of the people un the war-torn region to achieve genuine reconciliation and lasting peace.

India said it encourages the High Commissioner to continue to provide advice and technical assistance to Sri Lanka in accordance with the HRC resolutions.

India said the Sri Lankan government has honored its commitment to the international community to hold elections to the Northern Provincial Council and similarly they expect the government to implement the other important commitments made to the international community, including the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lanka Constitution and going beyond it.