US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO1122

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001122 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, AORC, KUNR, CE 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: GSL WILL REFLECT ON US PRIORITIES FOR 
UN REFORM 
 
REF: A. STATE 114051 
 
     B. STATE 111657 
 
Classified By: DCM J. ENTWISTLE FOR REASONS 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary.  The Ambassador delivered Reftel demarches to 
Foreign Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara on June 24. 
Palihakkara indicated that the GSL will likely vote in favor 
of the framework resolution that increases the Security 
Council to 24 members.  He said that his government might 
consider supporting a Human Rights Council but expressed some 
reservations.  Palihakkara said the Government of Sri Lanka 
(GSL) would support the idea of a Peacebuilding Commission, 
but again added some caveats.  End summary. 
 
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SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM 
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2. (C) On the topic of Security Council Reform, Palihakkara 
said that his government generally supports Japan, India, 
Brazil, and Germany for permanent member status.  He added 
that his government does not like all of the aspects of the 
proposed framework resolution that calls for 24 seats on the 
Security Council, but if pressed to a vote, the GSL would 
vote in favor of it.  He added that the GSL would like 
language included in the text of the resolution that will 
require Africa to provide a list in advance of the rotation 
it will use to give countries representation. 
 
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HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL AND PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION 
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3. (SBU) Palihakkara said that in principle, the GSL could 
support a Human Rights Council, but his government wants to 
be certain that a new body does not re-create the work of the 
Human Rights Committee.  He also said that it is important to 
engage countries that are violators of human rights, and if 
the proposed Council excludes those countries completely, 
perhaps it will be less effective at promoting human rights. 
He conceded that the large size of the Human Rights Committee 
sometimes makes it difficult to come to decisions, but 
asserted that the Committee was purposely designed to draw 
broad representation and to permit many voices to be heard. 
As far as a Peacebuilding Commission, Palihakkara said the 
GSL could support it as long as the body was respectful of 
local customs and would remain non-intrusive.  Palihakkara 
concluded by saying the GSL will have an open mind about 
institutional reform that might make the UN more effective, 
but that his government will need to reflect on the matters 
further. 
LUNSTEAD