The minister is scheduled to meet Lord Brown during the session.

The full text of the statement made by the Minister is as follows:

"Sri Lanka regrets the misconceived approach of the United Kingdom's Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, in his address to this august Assembly. We share the concerns of many members of the international community that such approaches only promote a growing belief that some individuals find it difficult to let go of historical possessions.

Regrettably, Lord Malloch-Brown has allowed himself to be quoted by the British Tamil Forum as saying that the results of the last election in Sri Lanka were unfortunate. This report has not been contradicted as yet, notwithstanding our High Commissioner in the UK bringing this to the attention of relevant parties.

Today, the noble Lord asserted that countering terrorism requires respect for human rights. As a practising democracy of long standing, Sri Lanka is well aware of this and has over the years developed new institutions that a colonial tradition failed to install. We are proud of our record in dealing with terrorism, whilst minimizing harm to civilians. We hope that Lord Malloch-Brown will not forget that, when dealing with terrorism in other countries, our circumspection in this regard should be emulated.

The noble Lord refers to 'reports' of problems but, in common with a few other countries, he fails to take into account substantial improvements in the situation in Sri Lanka. I pointed out yesterday, in response to arbitrary assertions that the situation was deteriorating, that we are strengthening democracy and pluralism in a manner that had proved difficult in the past.

His support for attempts to establish a UN Human Rights Office in Sri Lanka despite a clear position enumerated to the contrary by the Government of Sri Lanka, should be more productively replaced by a genuine concern for human rights for all our citizens in the context of a genuine struggle against terrorism.