Dinesh Gunawardena, the Sri Lankan foreign minister, said that the government and opposition should unite while representing the country’s foreign policy on international forums, adding that, however, parties can have debates on foreign policy within the country.

The minister also gave the example of India, saying India represents their nation in one voice in international forums despite having differences domestically. His statement came during a meeting of the Consultative Committee on Foreign Ministry, reported Colombopage.

In a week the United Nations Human rights Council (UNHRC) will start its annual session wherein a strong resolution is expected to come on the situation of human rights conditions in Sri Lanka. A recent report of the UNHRC recommended strong actions and resolution on Sri Lanka in this respect.

The foreign minister’s statement seems an effort to create domestic consensus just before the crucial UNHRC hearing. Civil societies organisations in Sri Lanka have also written to the UNHRC asking it to hold Sri Lanka accountable for its actions.  

During the meeting, he also informed that around 50,000 Sri Lankan refugees are still living in camps in the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India. Efforts are being taken, the minister said, to bring back the refugees.

India is currently taking care of food, shelter, medication, and all other basic needs of these refugees, he said, adding the Office of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai also regularly monitor the situation there.