SL Mission rounds off on success note

The Sri Lankan delegation led by Mahinda Samarasinghe, Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister successfully participated in the tenth session of the UN Human Rights Council which concluded its 4-week long session on March 27 in Geneva.

Proactive engagement

The Sri Lankan delegation's proactive engagement with all stakeholders ensured that heavy pro-LTTE lobbying as well as a two-pronged attempt by a few EU members to secure a statement in the Council on the situation in Sri Lanka by the High Commissioner for Human Rights or the Council's President, proved abortive.

During the sessions, the Sri Lankan delegation successfully countered adverse references made to the Sri Lanka situation made by a few delegations representing certain developed Western countries and several non-governmental organizations, as well as by several pro-LTTE activists who were present at the UN, lobbying heavily against ongoing military operations in the Wanni.

During both formal presentations and informal interactions, the Sri Lankan delegation clearly emphasized to other delegations that ongoing military operations were being carried out by the security forces in accordance with norms of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, and that such actions were necessary to eliminate terrorism and protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

The delegation that accompanied the Minister during the High Level Segment of the Council comprised Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, Mohan Peiris, P.C., Attorney-General, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, and Dr. Rohan Perera, P.C. Deputy Solicitor-General, Yasantha Kodagoda subsequently replaced the Attorney-General.

Frank discussion

Mahinda Samarasinghe addressed the High Level Segment on the opening day of the Council on March 2 and conducted a series of bilateral, regional and cross regional consultations at Ministerial level. In addition, the Mission provided other Ambassadors several opportunities to engage with the delegation in frank and open discussions, through a number of events including a working breakfast, a lunch and a dinner at which a cross section of ambassadors covering all Regional Groups of the Council were briefed on the current situation in Sri Lanka.

Separate meetings were also organized for Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and his delegation to brief the Asian, African, Latin American and Eastern European Groups of the Council and major cross-regional groups such as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).