Sources here said that Sri Lanka “understands the spirit in which we have approached this issue”. As for India traditionally not voting on country-specific resolutions, sources sought to justify Thursday’s vote by saying that “there are resolutions on countries but they are completely non-judgmental” and “non-intrusive”.
New Delhi is also said to have succeeded in getting two changes made in the draft resolution in order to make it “non-intrusive” and perhaps more palatable to the Lankans. One of them, importantly, is a change wherein any assistance from the office of the high commissioner on human rights or visits of UN special procedures “should be in consultation with and with the concurrence of the Sri Lankan government”.
Further, a paragraph that said “recalling council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 on institution building of the Human Rights Council’ was added to the resolution, sources said.
In a further attempt to assuage any anger or hurt that Sri Lanka may feel on India’s stand, New Delhi has also said that resolutions of the kind voted on today “should fully respect the sovereign rights of states and contribute to Sri Lanka’s own efforts”.
India, which has already welcomed the LLRC recommendations, has once again drawn attention to the need for “a political solution”.
It also wants the Lankan government to press ahead with devolution of powers and implement the 13th amendment.
Hoping that Sri Lanka would usher in genuine political reconciliation in a “credible” and “time-bound” manner, sources said they see this as being of paramount importance.