Sri Lanka participated in the 7th Meeting of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) entered into force in August 2010, held in Geneva on 4-6 September 2017, which opened today.
The attached statement was delivered by Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha.
Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) is an international treaty that addresses the humanitarian consequences and unacceptable harm to civilians caused by cluster munitions, through a categorical prohibition and a framework for action. The Convention prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. In addition, it establishes a framework for cooperation and assistance to ensure adequate care and rehabilitation to survivors and their communities, clearance of contaminated areas, risk reduction education and destruction of stockpiles.
Sri Lanka’s delegation included Major General D S Weeraman psc, Brigadier W A N M Weerasinghe RSP USP and Ms. Dulmini Dahanayake, Second Secretary of the Sri Lanka Permanent Mission in Geneva.
4 September 2017
Sri Lanka Permanent Mission
Geneva
For the second consecutive year, Sri Lankan students participated in the prestigious summer student programme at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva. The four students who completed the two months programme last week were, Ms. Thenmolie Gnanaguru a graduate of the Department of Physics, University of Jaffna, Mr. Nimmitha Karunarathna, a graduate of the Department of Physics, University of Colombo, Ms. Kaplanie Madara Liyanage, a graduate of the Department of Physics, University of Ruhuna and Ms. Chamini Shammi Pathiraja Mudiyanselage, a final year undergraduate of the Department of Physics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Consideration of the Fifth Periodic Report of Sri Lanka under the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) took place at the 61st Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, held at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, on 8-9 June 2017. Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva led the Sri Lanka delegation and introduced the report.
Minister of Labour, Trade Union Relations and Sabaragamu Development W.D.J. Seneviratne said that ‘Sri Lanka will make every endeavor to be an active partner of the ILO in achieving the anticipated goals of the green initiative”. The Minister encouraged the ILO to provide a platform for effective global dialogue, to facilitate technology transfer from developed to developing countries, to convert their production technologies in to green technologies, and thereby facilitate prevention and mitigation of the impact of climate change, while supporting to create significant additional green jobs. Minister Seneviratne made these observations when he addressed the 106th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva on 12th June 2017, in the context of the report of the Director General of ILO on ‘Work in a changing climate: the Green Initiative”.
Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva delivered the Statement on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka as the country concerned during the Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur (SR) on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Mr. Diego García-Sayán, at the 35th Session of the Human Rights Council today (12 June 2017). The Statement followed the presentation of the Report (A/HRC/35/31/Add 1) on the visit of previous Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Ms. Mónica Pinto to Sri Lanka from 29th April to 7th May 2016.
Full Statement
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
12 June 2017
Sri Lanka’s Deputy Permanent Representative in Geneva Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya said that ‘as a country with a sizeable number of its citizens working abroad, the Government of Sri Lanka places migration high in its national development policy’ and have made considered efforts to improve its national labour migration policies and governance, at national, bilateral, regional as well as international levels.
The flood situation and the landslides over the past few days have affected several districts in Sri Lanka resulting in the loss of over hundred lives while many more have been reported as missing. Over 100,000 persons are at present in safe locations while over 400,000 persons across the island remain affected.
Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne addressing the 70th World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting in Geneva on Tuesday (23 May 2017) said that the “Sri Lanka has achieved much progress in health care delivery due to cost-efficient use of resources and the coordinated use of its well ingrained primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities”.
A comprehensive study on promoting awareness on the role of Intellectual Property (IP) in promoting tourism- related economic activities and culture of the country is nearing finalization in consultation with the National Steering Committee chaired by Secretary Ministry of Tourism and WIPO experts. Last year, Sri Lanka was selected as one of 4 pilot countries - the others being Ecuador, Egypt and Namibia for this WIPO pilot project on “Intellectual Property, Tourism and Culture”.
Minister Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research of Sri Lanka has emphasized the importance of setting up cross –border cooperation among manufacturing and consuming countries, and in this regard, called for establishing a ‘Global Fund’, with the support of manufactures and voluntary contributors, through which e-waste management in those end-user countries be financed sustainably. He noted that financing e –waste management solely through imposing taxes at the importers level (upstream) or consumers level (downstream) could have negative effects on the access to technology by citizens in developing countries. He also called for increased awareness raising efforts among the public on sustainable waste management.
Highlighting the positive dividends migrant health agenda could contribute to both the individual migrants and to their host countries, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha emphasised that the Migrant Health be an essential element of the 2018 final Global Compact on Migration (GCM) document. Ambassador Aryasinha made these remarks during Sri Lanka’s intervention on 8th May 2017, at the first informal thematic discussion on development of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, held from 8 -9 May 2017 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, which focused on human rights of migrants, including their social inclusion and cohesion and all forms of discrimination, including racism, xenophobia and intolerance. During the session, Sri Lanka also officially tabled the ‘Colombo Statement on Migrant Health’ adopted at the 2nd Global Consultation on Migrant Health, held in Sri Lanka from 21-23 February 2017, as an input to the GCM process.
Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Susil Premajaytha has announced that a Steering Committee will be established in Sri Lanka to develop physics education at the high school and university levels and to strengthen cooperation with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The Committee would comprise of a core group drawn from universities and relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research, COSTI, NSF, etc.
A team comprising 7 Sri Lankan inventors led by Dr. Mahesh Edirisinghe, Commissioner of Sri Lanka Inventors Commission (SLIC) participated in the 45th edition of the International Exhibition of Inventions held at Palexpo, Geneva from 29th March to 02nd April 2017. All Sri Lankan inventors who showcased their inventions at this 45th edition were able to secure medals including three Gold Medals (with special recognition from Jury for two inventions and a special recognition from World Women Inventors Association for one invention), two Silver Medals and two Bronze Medals.
Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha has emphasized the need to fully utilize the holistic normative framework that the Right to Development provides in the realization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. While affirming Sri Lanka's continued support to the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development, he also highlighted the need for early finalization of the draft criteria and sub-criteria enabling the operationalization and realization of the Right to Development at the international level.
Ambassador Aryasinha made these observations when he delivered Sri Lanka’s statement at the 18th Session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development today (03 April 2017) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
03 April 2017
The Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ambassador William Lacy Swing has commended Sri Lanka on its dynamism and perseverance as the Chair of the Colombo Process (CP) which has led to numerous achievements, and steered the CP to a progressive path and to a very good future. Noting that due to its regular engagement, CP is among the strongest Global Regional Consultative Processes, Ambassador Swing commended Nepal for taking up the leadership of the process, adding that the IOM stood ready to continue supporting the Chair of the CP.
Ambassador Swing made these observations on the occasion of the transfer of the Chair of the CP, from the Government of Sri Lanka to the Government Nepal, during a meeting held at the IOM Headquarters in Geneva last week ( 29th March 2017).
The Director General of the Geneva based World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Dr. Francis Gurry has commended Sri Lanka’s efforts to draft a national policy on Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs) and has expressed hope that the WIPO supported twin national and cross-regional workshops on this theme to be held in Colombo in April 2017 will lead to legislation that will protect and give value to the intellectual property rights associated with Traditional Knowledge (TK), and Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs) unique to Sri Lanka. He also praised Sri Lanka for the enhancement of national capacities in several spheres of intellectual property in the country in recent years and for its continued cooperation and active engagement with WIPO.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Harsha De Silva, MP, addressed the 34th Session of the UN Human Rights Council today (23 March 2017) as the country concerned, during the adoption of the draft resolution A/HRC/34/L.1 “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka”, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Harsha De Silva, MP, addressed the 34th Session of the UN Human Rights Council following the presentation of the Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Sri Lanka by the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, today (22 March 2017).
Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva delivered the Statement on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka as the country concerned during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur (SR) on Minority Issues, at the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council today (15 March 2017). The statement followed the presentation of the Report (A/HRC/34/53/Add.3) by the Special Rapporteur Ms. Rita Izsák-Ndiaye on her visit to Sri Lanka from 10 to 20 October 2016.
Full Statement
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
15 March 2017
Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, MP, President's Counsel (PC), Mr. Mano Tittawella, Secretary General Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms (SCRM) and other government officials and Mr. Jehan Perera, Executive Director, National Peace Council of Sri Lanka representing the NGOs and civil society briefed members of civil society and Permanent Missions at a Side Event on ‘Developments in Sri Lanka’ on the sidelines of the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council held at the Palais des Nations on 01 March 2017.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera met UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 01 March 2017.
Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva delivered the Statement on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka as the country concerned during the Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Dr. Nils Melzer, at the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council today (02 March 2017). The statement followed the presentation of the Report (A/HRC/34/54/Add.2) on the visit of previous Special Rapporteur on Torture, Mr. Juan E. Mendez to Sri Lanka from 29 April to 7 May 2016.
Full Statement
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
02 March 2017
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera who is presently in Geneva to participate in the High-Level segment of the 34th Session of the UN Human Rights Council met UN Secretary-General Antonio Gueterres Monday (27). This was the first meeting of the Minister with the new UN Secretary-General who took office in January this year. Recalling his several visits to Sri Lanka from 1978 onwards, including as High Commissioner for Refugees, the Secretary-General said that Sri Lanka is a country that is very dear to his heart.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, leader of the Sri Lanka delegation, addressed the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, today (28th February 2017).
Hon. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, MP, President's Counsel (PC), Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, Mr. Mano Tittawella, Secretary General, Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms (SCRM), Mr. A.L.A. Azeez, Senior DG/EU, Multilateral Treaties and Commonwealth, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and other senior officials of the Government of Sri Lanka comprised the Sri Lanka delegation to the 34th HRC.
Permanent Mission of Sri LankaGeneva28th February 2017
Consideration of the 8th Periodic Review of Sri Lanka to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) took place at the 66th Session of the Committee against Women, held at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, on 22 February 2017. Mrs. Chandrani Senaratna , Secretary Ministry of Women and Child Affairs of Sri Lanka led the delegation.
The permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nation in Geneva celebrated the 69th Anniversary of Independence on 4th February 2017 at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) with the participation of over 250 members of the Sri Lankan community.
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