United Nations Security Council says:

No need to punish Sri Lanka

U.N. Security Council members see no point withholding an IMF loan or taking other steps to punish Sri Lanka.

Mexican Ambassador Claude Heller, President of the 15-nation Council, told reporters on Thursday after an informal session on Sri Lanka, a Reuters news report said. Asked if all Council members agreed that penalties such as withholding the $1.9 billion loan were unnecessary, Heller said, “Absolutely.”

British Ambassador John Sawers said London agreed punishing Sri Lanka was not on the Security Council agenda.

“We’re not in the job of penalising the government of Sri Lanka,” Sawers said. “We want to help the government of Sri Lanka to address this problem. I just wish that the government... was more open to the offers of help that have been extended to it.”