23 September, 2007 - Published 18:00 GMT

UN mission 'no threat to sovereignty'

Sri Lanka government should not unnecessarily be concerned over establishing a UN human rights mechanism in Sri Lanka, a senior minister said.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMM) leader Rauff Hakeem told BBC Sandeshaya that it would be an opportunity for Sri Lankan to demonstrate that the country is genuine in its attempts to curtail rights abuses.

The minister of Ports and Telecommunications was speaking as the government opposed establishing a UN monitoring mission in sri Lanka.

Hypocracy of West

Dayan Jayathilake, Ambassador and Sri Lanka’s Permanent representative to the UN in Geneva said the proposal could be seen as an attempt by the West to intervene in Sri Lankan affairs.

“Western countries use human rights as a tool of hypocracy in their agenda for power,” Jayathilake told BBC Sandeshaya.

He recalled that President Mahinda Rajapaksa personally invited UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, to visit Sri Lanka.

Louise Arbour's visit

However President Rajapaksa has objected to the proposal of establishing a monitoring mission in Colombo.

“The President jokingly remarked to Ms. Arbour that he could mention at least five other countries where serious abuses are continued,” Jayathilake said.

Minister Hakeem, however, was of the opinion that the government should seize the opportunity to ally minorities’ fears.

“I do not believe the opening of the UN monitoring mission will be a threat to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty or territorial integrity,” Minister Hakeem told BBC Sandeshaya.

The SLMC as a party representing a major minority, minister Hakeem said, would differ with the government policy over the issue.

“The argument whether we should establish a mission at a time when abuses by other states are ignored might actually result in tarnishing our international image,” he added.