'In our view, the action by the Secretary-General [establishment of advisory panel] is uncalled for because usually such procedures should take place only if member-states request it either through the General Assembly, the Security Council or through the United Nations Human Rights Commission. So the Secretary-General setting up a panel to advise him is not logical, stated Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Prasad Kariyawasam during an interview with the Statesman published on August 06, 2010.

Speaking on some of the views of Indian Tamil politicians towards Sri Lanka, the High Commissioner stated that they need to visit Sri Lanka to view the true situation.

'…we find that some Tamil Nadu politicians do not understand the ground realities of Sri Lanka and they say things that are totally off the mark. We, therefore, would want them to visit our country and see things for themselves at any time rather than relying on LTTE supporters abroad', he further said.


Following is the interview published in the Statesman:


‘UN advisory panel is uncalled for’
6 August 2010

Prasad Kariyawasam is Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India. Prior to this, he served in New York as Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations. He joined the Sri Lanka foreign service in 1981 and has held diplomatic assignments at Sri Lankan missions in Geneva, Riyadh, Washington and New Delhi. He was Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in India holding the rank of an Ambassador. He also served as Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, Consul General of Sri Lanka to Switzerland and Personal Representative of the Head of State of Sri Lanka to the G-15. In an interview to SIMRAN SODHI, he spoke on Indo-Sri Lankan relations.

How would you describe India-Sri Lanka relations, especially after the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India this year?

This was President Rajapaksa’s second state visit to India after having been re-elected with a resounding electoral endorsement of his policy. In our view, the state visit was a landmark, it broadened and deepened our bilateral relationship with India in many ways. We have taken our relationship to another, higher level in terms of the areas of interaction.

The United States has expressed its support for a UN panel in investigating alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. What is your reaction?

Firstly, the UN is not having an investigation on Sri Lanka. It is only a panel and its mandate is only to advise the Secretary-General on the issue of accountability during the last stages of the war. That's all. In our view, the action by the Secretary-General is uncalled for because usually such procedures should take place only if member-states request it either through the General Assembly, the Security Council or through the United Nations Human Rights Commission. So the Secretary-General setting up a panel to advise him is not logical.

Why do you think the USA has backed this panel?

In our view, some countries may be saying things to support the Secretary-General but we don’t call it backing because we think we have set up domestic mechanisms. We have a commission on lessons learnt and reconciliation with very eminent people. The commission has a mandate to inquire into the situation during the past two years of the LTTE’s military defeat and to present the government’s findings through consultations with those affected to provide restorative justice and not retributive justice.

How would you define restorative justice?

Restorative justice means that any party affected by the conflict should be able to find solutions and justice but retributive justice is different. That is not a concept we Asians are comfortable with. Retributive justice is not there in our grain. Restorative justice is what we are looking for and which we will provide through the mechanism of the commission. So we are disturbed by some parties in the western world calling for retributive action against Sri Lanka.

What is happening to General Fonseka? Is it a personal battle where both President Rajapaksa and General Fonseka want to take the credit for defeating the LTTE?

None of that is true. It is a simple case where there are allegations against Fonseka’s conduct and there are legal, judicial procedures taking place in terms of the allegations that have been levelled against him. It’s with regard to his conduct as a military officer and afterwards.

Does Sri Lanka give credit to General Fonseka for defeating the LTTE?

Definitely we give him credit. The Sri Lankan nation and the government have recognised his role as a good military commander but that does not absolve him in terms of the judicial processes he has to face in terms of the charges levelled against him.

How do you react when Tamil politicians in India raise the issue of Tamils in Sri Lanka?

Sometimes we feel that some Tamil politicians get affected by the Tamil diaspora that has been supporting the LTTE for many years and feel aggrieved or disappointed that the LTTE is no more. We will not allow violent action in support of separatism. That is where we find that some Tamil Nadu politicians do not understand the ground realities of Sri Lanka and they say things that are totally off the mark. We, therefore, would want them to visit our country and see things for themselves at any time rather than relying on LTTE supporters abroad. But let me say that most Tamil politicians are very good.

How critical was India’s support in defeating the LTTE?

We had to take this action against the LTTE because we were pushed to the wall and because violence was hitting us badly. In that effort, we have had countries like India who understood our predicament and who gave us a lot of moral support and some material support.

Does Sri Lanka support India’s candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council?

We fully support India’s candidature for a permanent seat in the Security Council. We have believed in the wisdom of the Indian nation since the time of King Ashoka. So we are comfortable with a strong India and, as our President said, India is our relation, others are friends.