SriLanka
Sri Lanka lobbying with Islamic nations for support in UNHRC
The Sri Lankan government has stepped up its diplomatic efforts and is reportedly reaching out to Muslim nations to ward off a critical resolution that would put to vote on Tuesday in the ongoing 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Earlier also, during the final years of the civil war, the Sri Lankan government had managed to stave off such resolutions with the help of Muslim countries. However, the situation has changed a bit this time.
The Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) had earlier criticized Sri Lanka for its forced cremation policy, which it said was fundamentally discriminatory to Sri Lankan Muslims. A day after the OIC condemnation in the UNHRC, Sri Lanka permitted burial for Muslims and Christians.
But the reversal in the forced cremation came a bit late. The controversy over it raged for more than eight months in Sri Lanka, drawing constant reactions and condemnation from the Islamic world.
Just days before, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had a telephonic conversation with the general secretary of the OIC. Also, Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa during his last week’s visit to Bangladesh sought Bangladesh’s help in defeating the resolution.
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