The statement made by Minister Dullas Alahapperuma that the Sri Lankan flag should be hoisted every where for a period of seven days to celebrate the fight posed by Sri Lanka against the US backed resolution at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, has been ridiculed by the government members and ministers.

Alahapperuma made a request through the media for all state and private institutions, houses and cars to hoist the Lion Flag. The Minister has made the request following a Presidential directive.

Several ministers have openly said that the people could not be fooled for long by saying that Sri Lanka had been defeated at the UNHRC by one vote. “We will not hoist flags even if the big man says it,” they have said.

Only 15 countries supported Sri Lanka in the 47 member UNHRC. Eight countries abstained from voting while 24 counties votes against Sri Lanka.

When a resolution was brought against Syria, 12 countries voted in favor of Syria. It is therefore general practice to have around 10-12 countries that support the country that is under scrutiny. A government minister said hence there was no reason for Sri Lanka to celebrate and hoist the Lion Flag because the government received 15 votes.

The biggest defeat experienced by Sri Lanka was the move by India to vote against the country. The Minister said that Sri Lankan politics would be subjected to a huge crisis in future and the reason for it is the government’s decision to move away from the non aligned foreign policy followed by the SLFP.