Sri Lanka accuses the west of interfering

Sri Lanka accused the western countries of making attempts to interfere in internal matters as The United States said the time is slipping away for Sri Lanka to achieve reconciliation and lasting peace.

	Otero with Mahinda Rajapaksa

Attending a media conference in Colombo on Friday Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities, Wimal Weerawansa Said that there is a conscious operation to interfere in Sri Lanka.

Lesson from Libya

“We have to learn from what they did in Libya. Western forces were sent to Libya under a UN resolution in the pretence of providing humanitarian aid. In reality the aid turned in to air raids”. Said the minister.

Meanwhile, addressing the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday, Maria Otero, Under secretary of state for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights of the US said the international community waited nearly three years for action and the United States is concerned.

	Wimal Weerawansa with US undersecretary of state Robert Blake

"We know from experience that there can be no lasting peace without reconciliation and accountability, but the United States is concerned that, in Sri Lanka, time is slipping away," Otero said.

Double standards

Minister Weerawansa accused the US of double standards,
“If the United States is against terrorism, why do they protect Rudrakumaran? That man is trying to revive a vicious terrorist organisation, Tamil Tigers. How come he is not considered to be a war criminal?” The minister questioned.

Otero said the US has been engaged with Sri Lanka bilaterally on the issues since the conflict ended in May 2009 and expressed the readiness of US to continue to work with Sri Lanka to address the accountability and to achieve lasting peace.

"Action now in this Council will sow the seeds of lasting peace in the ground," Otero said.