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Pro-government activists are reflected in the glass of the US embassy during a protest in Colombo yesterday.
GENEVA: The United Nations urged Sri Lanka in a resolution yesterday to carry out credible investigations into killings and disappearances during its nearly 30-year civil war, especially in the brutal final stages in 2009. It voiced concern at reports of continuing violations including killings, torture, curbs on the right to freedom of expression, and reprisals against activists and journalists. The 47-member Geneva forum adopted the text with 25 countries in favour, including India; and 13 against, including Pakistan. Eight abstained and one delegation was absent. Sri Lankan presidential envoy Mahinda Samarasinghe took the floor at the debate to reject the US resolution as “highly intrusive” and called for states to vote against the text.
