Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe will lead the Sri Lanka delegation to Geneva, Switzerland to participate at an interactive secession with the Human Rights Council at the Universal Periodic Review scheduled to hold in May 13, weeks after the conclusion of the seventh secession of the Council.

Addressing the media in Colombo yesterday (03) Minister Samarasinghe said that the aims and objectives of the Universal Periodic Review include the improvement of the human rights obligations and commitments and assessment of positive developments and challenges faced by the country.

It also consists the enhancement of the State's capacity and of technical assistance, in consultation with and with the consent of the State concerned.

The Minister said that Sri Lanka would be reviewed during the second Session of the First Cycle in May along with Gabon, Ghana, Peru, Guatemala, Benin, South Korea, Switzerland, Pakistan, Zambia, Japan, Ukraine, France, Tonga, Romania, and Mali.

Sri Lanka will be seeking re-election to the Council next month in New York soon after the country's human rights situation is reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review of the Council.

Minister Samarashinghe expressing his satisfaction that no resolutions were moved against Sri Lanka at the Seventh Sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council that concluded last week in Geneva said that a clear majority of members of the Council showed their solidarity with Sri Lanka in its efforts to promote and protect human rights while combating terrorism.

(Courtesy : Department of Information)