Sri Lanka rebuts Louise Arbour's statement on CFA abrogation

Sri Lanka Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, in a statement today strongly rebutted the comments made by the UN High commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour on the government's decision to abrogate the 2002 ceasefire agreement.

The Minister said that the government decision was taken after “careful and serious consideration of effective measures required to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka in the backdrop of escalating terrorists attacks” by the Tamil Tigers.

He said the Government is compelled to consider Ms. Arbour’s warning on ‘individual criminal responsibility’ as being untimely, inappropriate and unacceptable.

He further stressed that the government will not overturn its decision and will continue to take whatever legal action for the safety of the Sri Lankan citizens.

Minister Samarasinghe said “the Government is committed to the enforcement of military and other lawful measures to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka and to eliminate terrorism, in accordance with the laws of Sri Lanka and in compliance with international norms and standards including International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.”

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