Geneva resolution against Sri Lanka passed by a majority vote.
The resolution was tabled at the 46th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council to promote reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.
This is the first time since 2015 that the UNHRC has passed a resolution on Sri Lanka, despite opposition from the incumbent government.
The resolution will enable the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to collect and preserve information on war crimes in Sri Lanka. The UN General Assembly has also approved the collection of information on future human rights violations in the country.
The resolution received 22 votes in favor, with Argentina, Mexico and Uruguay joining South America. Eleven countries, including Russia, Pakistan, China and Bangladesh, opposed the move. India, Japan and Nepal, as well as Bahrain and Libya, abstained.
However, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had emphasized that Britain was one of the leading suppliers to the UNHRC.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was told at the Geneva conference that the resolution on Sri Lanka would cost more than $ 2 million to implement.