International community acknowledged Sri Lanka's victory:

March towards prosperity:

Pearl of the Indian Ocean outshines regional contenders

By Manjula Fernando

President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Pope Francis while Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa looks on

It is important to record that the far-sighted, brave and purposeful leadership that the president has shown as the head of state and the commanding chief of armed forces that Sri Lanka overcame the scourge of terrorism.

When we look back over the past thirty years, there was not a single occasion when the forces have backed down, they were always motivated to defeat the enemy, the LTTE.

When there were critical moments, to defeat the LTTE once and for all,international pressure was mounted on the Government.

Successive leaders bowed down to such pressure and sat down for Talks with the LTTE hoping that the LTTE would show flexibility in arriving at a negotiated political settlement.

When President Rajapaksa took over the mantle of leadership he also took initial steps towards peace talks in the hope of arriving at a negotiated political settlement, respecting the territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity but very soon he saw that the LTTE was only using discussions to arm themselves even more and consolidate their military operations.

The president after realising this bitter truth took a very clear decision that unlike his predecessors he will not bow down to international pressure, he knew that it would only give breathing space to the LTTE.

His firmness in defeating terrorism was amazing. There were others who forced him to give up the military operations, "We are facing a lot of pressure in our countries to intervene and stop the on going military operations and if you don't comply, we will not be able to continue our development aid", they said.

But President Mahinda Rajapaksa replied, "I am seated in this chair because of the people who voted me to office, I cannot betray them, their expectation is that my government will wipe out terrorism and give them freedom, that they have been asking for. If you don't want to give me aid, so be it I will find development aid from somewhere else'.

He said "I will never let my people suffer or starve, we will somehow keep the development work going, but I am not going to be flexible on stopping the military operations, because now we are on the verge of defeating the biggest scourge that my country has faced".

As he promised the forces were never asked to back down even when international pressure was critically intense in the last few weeks before the operations successfully ended in May 2009.

Since then, the country had been seeing a different kind of a battle to revive the country and march it towards prosperity. He had not sat down a single day to rest. The battle to steer the country towards the development which it was deprived of by a bitter prolonged conflict was begun even before the war with terrorism was concluded. So was his determination to make this little island nation which is known by the acronym Pearl of the Indian Ocean outshine its regional contenders.The international community, those who genuinely acknowledged Sri Lanka's victory as a nation, endorsed our fight with the terrorists and helped in numerous ways to rise from the ashes of a bitter past.

While some members of the international community, at the behest of organised players trying to resurrect the LTTE, kept pulling the leg, a significant lot spoke on behalf of us at international fora, urging to recognise what Sri Lanka has achieved after the end of the war.

Australia too has been open in its support for Sri Lanka to overcome the challenges the country is facing as a war torn nation.

The Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott defended Sri Lanka's human rights record, saying the Government was committed to upholding the democratic charter of the Commonwealth but adding that, 'sometimes in difficult circumstances difficult things happen'. "Sri Lanka since the end of the war is free and prosperous, and has a better future and that's important for everyone," he added during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2013 in Colombo. Australia had boldly rejected to co-sponsor the resolutions sponsored by the US at the UNHRC.

The statements by certain powerful nations who objected to the latest resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in March this year is testimony to this international support.

Statements by world leaders...

Member states must respect Sri Lanka's sovereignty - China

Promotion and protection of human rights remains the primary responsibility of governments. Member states must respect the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

The country must also be allowed to settle its own affairs. We must respect and encourage the government of Sri Lanka to continue to conduct investigations. Trying to impose and external mechanism of monitoring and investigation will do nothing into promote of internal efforts of reconciliation on the contrary it will complicate the situation.

When the international community provides technical assistance to Sri Lanka, it must fully consult the government and obtain its agreement.

We support the proposal by Pakistan to delete paragraph 10 (calling for an international investigation). We also call upon other members of the council to vote in favour of this proposal.

Addressing human rights violations through robust national mechanisms vital- India

India has always been of the view that the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka provided a unique opportunity to pursue a lasting political settlement, acceptable to all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamils.

India believes that this Council's efforts should contribute to a State's own efforts in the promotion and protection of human rights.

We are strongly supportive of Sri Lanka's continued engagement with the OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights).

In asking the OHCHR to investigate, assess and monitor the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, the resolution ignores the progress already made by the country in this field and places in jeopardy the cooperation currently taking place between the Government of Sri Lanka and the OHCHR and the Council's Special Procedures.

Besides, the resolution is inconsistent and impractical in asking both the Government of Sri Lanka and the OHCHR to simultaneously conduct investigations.

India believes that it is imperative for every country to have the means of addressing human rights violations through robust national mechanisms.

Sri Lanka has a long and proud tradition of democracy -Pakistan

Sri Lanka has a long and proud tradition of democracy. It has suffered for 30 years due to brutal terrorism by the LTTE, and internationally recognised terrorist organisation. Eventually it has succeeded in overcoming this menace of terrorism and separatism.

The international community, including the HRC, should help and support Sri Lanka to heal its wounds and

Interference in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka is unacceptable. No self-respecting country would agree to the intrusive measures advocated in this resolution. We have also been just informed by the Secretariat that an amount of 1,460,900 dollars would be required to implement this resolution whereas this amount was not available in the regular budget.

In case co-sponsors of the resolution would provide the financial support then resolution will already be tainted.

This resolution is about politics not Human Rights. It is also a crass example of hypocrisy and double-standards.

It selectively targets the Government of Sri Lanka but fails to hold to account the LTTE terrorists who indulged in mass murder of innocent people for 30 years.

Moreover, the main sponsors of this resolution are hardly in a position to hold Sri Lanka to account given their own track record of human rights violations.

For more than a decade they have and continue to indulge in a consistent pattern of gross human rights violations including illegal renditions, incommunicado detentions, torture and extra-judicial killings - all behind the smokes-screen of fighting terrorism.

Cuba supports Govt's reconciliation efforts - Cuba

If we see the imposition of measures such as this one, what is the signal we want to send out to the world - simply that cooperation is not important; it is simply a case of imposing the interests of the powerful over the others.

What else can we ask of Sri Lanka - a country whose government has come cooperatively to each Council session. It has provided full open information, it works with others, it has invited special procedures to visit and even hosted madam high commissioner in the country.

These are simply pretexts that are abused by the sponsors of the resolution.

For all of the years terrorism lasted, these sponsors simply kept their peace and were never concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka.

Precisely when it ended, when there is real possibility for sovereignty for reconstruction for peace and right to development for people of Sri Lanka, then suddenly they begin to have an interest in this country.

Cuba supports the efforts made by the Government of Sri Lanka to keep pressing ahead for reconciliation for the promotion and protection of Human Rights.

Cuba is a friend of the people of Sri Lanka.

And that is precisely why we can in no way support this draft resolution. It is politically motivated.

National reconciliation must be done by Sri Lankans - Russian Federation

We wanted to make this statement before the resolution was adopted and we regret not being given that opportunity.

The Russian Federation voted against the draft resolution on Sri Lanka because we consider the resolution is non-constructive and unprincipled. We believe national reconciliation must be done by the Sri Lankans themselves.

Attempts to interfere from my side will have negative effects on this process.

We cannot agree with imposing state assistance when it is not in need and not requested.

Interventionist attempt in Sri Lanka's domestic policies unjustified -Venezuela

Venezuela rejects in the strongest possible terms, initiatives such as this.

They are initiatives which tarnish the work of this council and they are most often used against developing countries.

And this is precisely the case in respect of Sri Lanka. We regret that the co-sponsors of the draft resolution have simply ignored the very great and demonstrated efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka to comply with human rights obligations since peace was restored in 2009.

Sri Lanka continues to show that it is committed to this council and its mechanisms to the UPR and to the treaty bodies to the office of the HC.

It continuously and openly provides information as to the progress it has made under the challenges that remain.

Venezuela believes that the interventionist attempt in Sri Lanka's domestic policies is unjustified.

A trajectory for development - Former Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama

"President Rajapaksa doesn't wait for someone to tell where to build the next road, when to open it and where to set up the next township or housing project. He addresses the issues as needed. That should be the way forward.

"I met the Afghan Foreign Minister when he accompanied President Karzai on his tour in Sri Lanka". He said President Karzai was amazed to see the development in Sri Lanka since his last visit in 2008.

The Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka who was with the President after the opening the Kottawa - Kaduwela outer circular road a few days ago said, in my presence, that Sri Lanka is registering a marked development - a trajectory for development where other countries can witness.It has been possible because we freed ourselves from terrorism."

A milestone in President Rajapaksa's term in office

Upgrading of the relations between Sri Lanka and China to a one from friendship to a strategic cooperative partnership.

According to the new consensus, the two countries will maintain high-level exchanges, enhance political communication, and support each other's efforts in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. They will respect each other's choice of development path and strengthen exchanges of experience in state governance.