Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka told the Cabinet on October 23 that the Government should launch diplomatic efforts to withdraw its co-sponsorship of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror. The Minister said this when the Cabinet discussed the Bill to set up the National Truth Commission and pointed out that the Government had taken several steps as far as reconciliation was concerned. He said the government should also make every effort to replace the current resolution. He cited the Office of Missing Persons, the Office for Reparation, and various commissions appointed during the former rule as steps taken in this direction. However, the Minister said there was no reciprocity from the other side.
Meanwhile, Minister of Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Regional Development Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka on October 23 said that it is not legal to pay reparations to those who tried to divide the country and engaged in illegal activities, reports Daily Mirror. Minister Fonseka expressed this sentiment at a media briefing held this afternoon when he was asked about his views on the Reparations Bill. “LTTE were those who worked to divide the nation by taking up arms. It is a serious offence according to the Constitution. I don’t approve of paying compensation to them. However, if people are affected due to certain other reasons including while engaging in their official duties, such people can be compensated,” he said.