SRI LANKA: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON UNCHR 61

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000516

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2015
TAGS: PHUM PREL CE UNHRC
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON UNCHR 61

REF: A. STATE 42847


B. COLOMBO 451

Classified By: POL PMAHONEY. REASON: 1.4 (B,D).


1. (SBU) Poloff delivered Ref A demarche to Sumedha
Ekanayake, Assistant Director for UN and Multilateral
Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on March 11. Ekanayake
identified child soldiers (Ref B) as an issue of particular
concern and one that the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister will
emphasize in his statement. In addition, the Foreign
Minister will address steps taken by the Goverment of Sri
Lanka (GSL) to improve its human rights record, particularly
with respect to torture/abuse of detainees.


2. (C) In keeping with past practice, Ekanayake expects the
GSL would abstain from a resolution on Cuba. (Sri Lanka has
abstained every year except 1999, when it voted against the
resolution.) The GSL would "most probably" support
resolutions on Belarus and DPRK. Despite "a growing
understanding" within the GSL that too much time is spent on
Israel in CHR proceedings, Ekanayake said that Sri Lanka's
strong bilateral and regional relationships with some of the
sponsors can make it difficult for the GSL to oppose such
resolutions.
LUNSTEAD