The European Union is planning to reintroduce a resolution on Sri Lanka before the UN Human Rights Council sessions in September, The Morning Leader learns. Informed sources said a resolution is currently under discussion within the EU and will be discussed among member nations before it is placed before the council. The EU presidency is currently held by Portugal.

The UNHRC is meeting in Geneva from September 10-28.

It is learned the EU is taking the position that there has been an escalation of the conflict, and an increase in the number of abductions and missing persons during the last several months. A EU sponsored resolution which was to be taken up at the last session in March was deferred following assurances by the government that appropriate steps will be taken to address the human rights concerns raised by the EU.

The statement last week by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse that the security forces will shortly move to take Wanni will also add weight to the contention that there is an escalation of the conflict, these sources said.

It is learned the statement by Government Spokesperson, Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle where he described UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Sir John Holmes as a 'terrorist in the pay of the LTTE' has also had an adverse impact on the government in the backdrop of President Mahinda Rajapakse's failure to condemn or distance his administration from the allegation.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to dispatch a high level delegation to lobby the EU and member nations to refrain from moving a resolution claiming the human rights situation has improved during the last few months. The government delegation will also distance itself from the statement made by the Defence Secretary on planning an operation to attack the Wanni.

The three member government delegation led by Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and comprising Attorney General C.R. De Silva and Peace Secretariat Chief Rajiva Wijesinha will leave for Geneva next week. The delegation will meet the EU Ambassadors and other UNHRC members to brief them on the steps taken by the government to improve the human rights situation in the country.

The delegation is to return to the island before the September 10 sessions commence. The government delegation for the UNHRC sessions from September 10-28 will be led by Sri Lanka's representative in Geneva, Dayan Jayatilleke and include Deputy Solicitors General Shavindra Fernando, Yasantha Kodagoda, Rajiva Wijesinha, Shirani Goonetilleke and an official from the Foreign Ministry.

It is learned the senior delegation will return to the island before the sessions commence following assurances by Sri Lanka's representative in Geneva that the situation is under control and that the resolution will not be tabled at the sessions.

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