Cabinet yesterday said that the Sri Lankan delegation led by Special envoy and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe has been successful in precluding an attempt by certain Western countries to prejudge the national reconciliation process and the conclusion of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), at the 18th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held from October 12 to 30 in Geneva.

Cabinet also noted that the delegation has enlightened the representatives of council member states of the progress made in post war reconstruction and initiatives to bring about reconciliation in the country. As a result, many countries inclusive of Pakistan, Cuba, China, the Russian Federation, Thailand, Chile, Malaysia and Algeria were supportive of Sri Lanka’s position.

The position of Sri Lanka had been strengthened by the interactions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the UN General Assembly in New York and at the recently concluded CHOGM summit in Australia with several heads of states and governments at which the current situation in the country was extensively discussed. The Cabinet congratulated the President and the Sri Lankan delegation to the UNHRC Commission headed by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and External Affairs Minister Prof G. L. Peiris and other members of the delegation on the achievements made in improving international relations.