Sri Lanka believes that in the settlement of international disputes, action must be based on the fundamental principle of sovereign equality of states, a principle firmly enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, stated Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs in his address yesterday to the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly. He regretted that the noticeable recent tendency to selectively and arbitrarily intervene in the internal affairs of States flies in the face of this principle, and dilutes the confidence so carefully nurtured in the UN system.

Addressing the 63^rd Session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR on Tuesday (2 October) Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha said, "those who downplay the significance of Sri Lanka's post-conflict achievements and constantly keep shifting goal posts, show disrespect not only to Sri Lanka and its international partners whose steadfast commitment to this task has made these achievements possible, but also to those who have at last emerged from the suffering caused by 30 years of terrorist conflict". 

Ambassador Aryasinha who noted that "in contrast to the considerable difficulty and gloom in the humanitarian crises that continue to engulf many parts of the world today, Sri Lanka’s recent achievements provides confidence and hope". and that  "it lends credence to the position that even the most severe and insurmountable of challenges could be overcome with the political commitment and dedication of the concerned country, and the requisite support provided by the international community. He said "Sri Lanka remains ready to share its experience and best practices in post-conflict resettlement and rehabilitation with the international community".

Professor Peiris chaired the thirty fifth meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Group of 15 (G-15) in New York on 27 September 2012. Observing that the meeting is taking place at a critical juncture when the strength of the world economy is shifting towards the developing world and an increasing number of these countries are turning to South-South cooperation to overcome their difficulties and challenges, the Minister expressed the belief that engagement among member states would advance the common cause of the G-15 as well as the wider community of developing countries. Minister Peiris welcomed the fact that the Group is well on the path to regeneration and revival, a process that was given direction and momentum at the meeting of the High Level Task Force for the Review and Revitalization of the Group, held in Colombo.

Countries have to solve issues of concern in keeping with their values systems with primacy accorded to local procedures, as the needs of the country and its people are important, observed Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris during his bilateral meetings yesterday (24th September) on the margins of the 67thSession of the UNGA, with the Deputy Prime Ministers & Foreign Ministers of Oman and the Czech Republic, Foreign Ministers of Bahrain, Cyprus, the Maldives and the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. Minister Peiris is leading the Sri Lanka delegation to the UN General Assembly session this year.

 

Acknowledging a firm foundation in Sri Lanka’s relations with China, External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris assured the strong resolve to expand the contours of this relationship, during his meeting yesterday with Yang JiechiForeign Minister of China on the margins of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly Session in New York. Elaborating Professor Peiris observed that the ties between the two countries have stood the test of time and are rich and multi-faceted.

The Sri Lanka delegation to the 21st Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva is continuing to engage with the relevant Interactive Dialogues with Special Procedures Mandate Holders and Working Groups.

Participating in the Session on 'Human Rights Situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories', Sri Lanka expressed its deep concern about the hardships faced by the Palestinian people. Noting that it had long advocated the recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Sri Lanka said it remains steadfast in its unequivocal support to the people and the Government of Palestine for their just struggle to achieve the right of statehood, coexisting peacefully alongside Israel. Sri Lanka urged the Government of Israel to lift the blockade placed on Gaza, within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1860, which has a devastating impact on the lives of the ordinary people of Palestine, especially the young. Sri Lanka also voiced its belief that the State of Palestine would soon be able to assume its rightful place among the community of states at the United Nations.

 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid an official visit to India from 19-22 September 2012, following his State Visit to India in June 2010. He visited Delhi as Guest of Honour at the concluding ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and visited Mumbai in April 2011 as well for the Cricket World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka.  

During the visit, President Rajapaksa called on the newly-elected President of India, Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, held official talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, attended a dinner hosted in his honour by the Prime Minister and visited Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh on 21 September.

At the invitation of the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Chouhan, President Rajapaksa visited sacred Sanchi on 21 September for a series of landmark events, during his official visit to India. 

On arrival, President Rajapaksa was received by the Governor of Madhya Pradesh Ramnaresh Yadav, Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan, and other dignitaries of the Madhya Pradesh Government. The President visited the Sanchi Stupa Complex built by Emperor Asoka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and paid homage to the Relics of the two main disciples of Gautama Buddha, Arhat Sariputta and Maha Moggallana, at the Chetiyagiri Vihara in Sanchi.

Indian President commends development initiatives in Sri Lanka: 

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said yesterday it is the duty and obligation of Indian and Sri Lankan leaders to continue the centuries old friendship between the two countries. 

Mukherjee made this remark when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is on a three day official visit to India, called on him at Rastrapathi Bhavan in New Delhi yesterday. 

Both leaders focused their attention on strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

 The Indian President commended the development initiatives in Sri Lanka and expressed his satisfaction over the successful implementation of development projects, particularly in the North and East.

Visit by Wu Bangguo, China’s top legislature to Sri Lanka heightens the momentum of Sri Lanka – China Bilateral Relations   

At the invitation of the Speaker of Sri Lanka Parliament Chamal Rajapaksa, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Wu Bangguo representing the higher echelons of the leadership of the People’s Republic of China made a first ever historic visit to Sri Lanka from 15 – 18 September 2012.   This visit marked an important milestone in Sri Lanka-China relations particularly in consolidating friendly ties and setting the tone for future cooperation between the two countries. 

 

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Sri Lanka in November next year will be a historic moment for Sri Lanka to showcase the remarkable progress achieved by the country to the wider world in the post-conflict era. The Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G.L Peiris made this comment, while addressing a distinguished gathering, following the ceremonial inauguration of the Taskforce Secretariat for CHOGM 2013, located at the BMICH premises in Colombo today (Monday, 17th September 2012).

On behalf of the G-15 member States, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha emphasized that developing countries and the LDc’s need UNCTAD’s assistance now more than ever in designing policies for dealing with persistent and emerging challenges for development in the aftermath of the recent economic and financial crisis which has slowed the global economic growth.  

The Group echoed in the message UNCTAD’s role and contribution through its three pillars in setting the appropriate environment for the developing countries to transform the challenges and uncertainties into opportunities specially through South South co-operation.  

In line with the theme of Doha mandate, he explained that for UNCTAD members to benefit, globalization should be development centered and should focus on inclusive and sustainable growth and development outcomes. 

The TDB Sessions which is the highest decision making body after Ministerial conference, deals with substantive policy issues, such as global economic issues from trade and development perspective and reviews the progress of implementation of UNCTAD work programme. The 59^th session is scheduled from 17 – 28 September 2012, covering sessions related to poverty reduction, economic development in Africa, investment for development, evolution of the international trading system and its trends from a development perspective among others.   

Full statement.....

The high-level Business Delegation of the African National Congress-Progressive Business Forum (ANC-PBF) led by Prof. Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of South Africa visited Sri Lanka from 5th – 9th September 2012. The 24-member delegation included Renier Schoeman, Co-convener of the ANC-PBF and leading South African businessmen of mining, construction, agriculture, IT and retail sectors. The Progressive Business Forum is the Business wing of the ANC and has a membership of over 6000 companies.

Mr Amal Senalankadhikara, Chairman of the Bureau of Foreign Employment and Mr Devseth Fernando, Additional General Manager of the Bureau of Foreign Employment took to the main podium at the opening session of the intercessional workshop, titled ‘Protecting migrants during times of crisis : immediate responses and sustainable strategies’, organized by the international Organization for Migration. The event was organized in line with the international dialogue on migration (IDM) for 2012, which aims to focus on managing migration in crisis situations.

The Sri Lanka Delegation to the 21st Session of the Human Rights Council, intervening in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on 'Extreme Poverty', has emphasized that States and economic actors must take concerted efforts to address extreme poverty and create an enabling environment for sustainable economic development, which is accessible to all. Noting that Sri Lanka considers the Draft Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights as a tool, which can lead to developing and shaping measures and activities needed to eradicate extreme poverty across the world, the delegation called for strong political will and a multi-pronged and multi-dimensional approach at all levels to make the eradication of extreme poverty a reality.

The Sri Lanka Delegation to the 21st Session of the Human Rights Council which opened in Geneva earlier this week is continuing to engage with the relevant Interactive Dialogues with Special Procedures Mandate Holders and Working Groups.  

Intervening in the Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-recurrence, on Wednesday (12 September) Senior Legal Advisor to the Cabinet Mr. Mohan Pieris observed that Sri Lanka has developed its  home-grown transitional justice  process with the establishment of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, based on the principle of restorative justice, to advise on  the measures which may  be  required to achieve national healing, cohesion and unity.  In formulating the LLRC, Sri Lanka reflected on comparative transitional justice experiences in other countries.

Participating on Tuesday in the Interactive dialogue on the Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, Mr. Peiris who described Sri Lanka's experience 'as a story that we could be proud of', said the Government adhered to the policy of treating all child combatants as victims and not as perpetrators.

Full statement ...

 

Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha has said, the international community, especially those countries that have faced the challenge of emerging from protracted conflict or continue to be embroiled in such conflict, would particularly appreciate the significance of Sri Lanka's achievements since the ending of terrorism a little over 3 years ago.  

Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva and Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation to the 21st session of the Human Rights Council made these observation, delivering the country statement on the opening day of the session in  Geneva on Monday (10 Sept 2012). The session opened with an address by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.   

 Full statement.....