Ending terrorism in Lanka given rise to punitive campaigns: Rajapaksa

He was apparently referring to the latest UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution against his country

Sri Lanka is being penalised by "interested parties" for eradicating terrorism in the country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

"Regrettably, the eradication of terrorism in Sri Lanka, has now given rise to a punitive campaign being carried out by interested parties for their own ends. It is unfortunate that this campaign has introduced continuing obstacles," Rajapaksa said.

Rajapaksa was apparently referring to the latest UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution against his country.

The US-sponsored resolution was adopted with 24 countries voting in favour. Japan along with India was one of the 12 countries which abstained in the UNHRC vote in Geneva in March.

"The need of the hour, however, is goodwill and solidarity to deal with the universal challenge to peace, stability and prosperity ," he said while addressing the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Shanghai.

The CICA, consists of 24 member states including India, aims to promote multi-lateral approaches towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia.

Sri Lanka has been subject to an international probe into alleged human rights violations during the last phase of the war with the LTTE.

Rajapaksa administration has been accused of not doing enough to achieve reconciliation with the Tamil minority in its post-conflict phase.

Sri Lanka views the international campaign against it as one carried out by the Western nations at the behest of the pro-LTTE diaspora domiciled in those countries. It has vowed not to cooperate with the investigation.