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.
An International Cooperation Agreement (ICA) to enhance scientific cooperation in High Energy Physics between the scientific community of Sri Lanka and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), was signed in Geneva on Wednesday (8 February 2017). Minister of Science, Technology & Research, Susil Premajayantha and the Director for International Relations of CERN, Ms. Charlotte Warakaulle signed on behalf of the two parties.
Delivering a keynote addressed at the World Health Organisation (WHO) meeting on ‘Rehabilitation 2030: A Call for Action’, in Geneva on Monday (6th February) Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr Rajitha Senaratne said that the Government of Sri Lanka has identified Rehabilitative Health Services as the third pillar of Sri Lanka’s health care delivery system, in addition to the earlier focus on curative and preventive health services. Minister Senaratne was invited by the WHO, together with Minister of Health of Botswana and Deputy Minister of Health of Lao People’s Democratic Republic to deliver the keynote addresses at the meeting, and share the experience of their country efforts in rehabilitation services.
Switzerland, a co-chair of the UN intergovernmental consultations on the modalities for the process for adoption of the ‘Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration’, has commended the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) chaired by Sri Lanka, for its proactive action to seek close engagement in the process of development of the Global Compact on Migration (GCM). Mr. Pietro Mona, Deputy Head, Global Program on Migration and Development of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, acknowledged the leadership of Sri Lanka and the ADD troika, which also includes Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for initiating such a dialogue within the ADD, even before the resolution on modalities for the intergovernmental negotiation on the Global Compact was adopted by the UN General Assembly.
On 13 January 2017, the Colombo Process (CP) Member States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Organization of Migration (IOM), operationalising a self-funding funding mechanism for the CP.
H.E. Ravinatha Aryasinha, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, highlighted the key developments following the inauguration-in-office of H.E. the President, and reflected on the importance of reconciliation and integration as the way forward for Sri Lanka. He further stated that a number of important steps were taken by the Government both domestically and internationally to promote reconciliation and economic development of the country. Speaking on the importance of continued contribution by expatriate Sri Lankans to this process, Ambassador Aryasinha stressed the need to work together as one community for a better future for Sri Lanka.
GENEVA (ILO News) – On 12 January 2016, the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka deposited with the International Labour Office the instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006). Sri Lanka is the 81st ILO member State and the 16th Asian State to have ratified the Convention.
Sri Lanka said that it supports the establishment of a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) in 2017, within the framework of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and to elevate the dialogue on LAWS to a State –driven formal process.
The Director General of International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ambassador William Lacy Swing commended Sri Lanka’s dynamic leadership in Migration in connection with the important role played by Sri Lanka as the current chair of the Colombo Process. In particular Ambassador Swing highlighted the development of the five thematic areas ; Skills and Qualification Recognition, Ethical Recruitment, Pre-departure Orientation, Remittances and Labour Market Trends, under Sri Lanka’s chair of the Colombo Process.
Sri Lanka has been admitted to the Foundation Council, the Governing Body of the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP). Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha represented Sri Lanka for the first time at the Foundation Council Meeting held last week (15th November 2016) in Geneva. Welcoming Sri Lanka, Professor François Heisbourg Chairman of the GCSP Foundation Council expressed confidence that Sri Lanka would actively contribute towards the work of the Council.
Consideration of the Fifth Periodic Report of Sri Lanka under the Committee Against Torture (CAT) took place at the 59th Session of the Committee Against Torture, held at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, on 15-16 November 2016. Hon. Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, Attorney General of Sri Lanka and Leader of the Sri Lanka delegation introduced the report.
A CDIP Project titled “Intellectual Property, Tourism and Culture” was launched in Sri Lanka through a WIPO Mission undertaken from 2-6 May 2016. This Mission brought together the main stakeholders in the fields of IP, tourism and culture, and a National Steering Committee has been established for the project implementation at national level. In the framework of this Project, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has been appointed as the coordinating agency for the project implementation in Sri Lanka.
A cross-party Sri Lankan parliamentary delegation led by Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva was hosted by Hon. Christa Markwalder, President of the National Council, Switzerland at the Switzerland National Parliament in Bern on 26 October 2016.
During the official meeting, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva briefed the Swiss delegation regarding the steps taken to strengthen the parliament through constitutional amendments in recent times including the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, paving the way for the establishment of the independent commissions, as well as the proposed Constitution and the electoral reforms currently under deliberation. Noting the close bilateral relations between the two countries, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva called for cooperation between the two parliaments in the years ahead.
Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, Speaker of the Parliament, attending the 135th Session of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, was invited to chair the emergency session on Syria called by the IPU Assembly on 25th October. The Session had before it a Resolution titled “The war and the severe humanitarian situation in Syria, particularly in Aleppo” presented by Germany and Mexico. Pursuant to the General Debate, a Drafting Committee was mandated to discuss and present the finalized Resolution on 27th October 2016, for the consideration of the IPU Assembly.
The Speaker and the Sri Lanka delegation also had a courtesy meeting with the Secretary-General of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Mr. Martin Chungong. During the discussion, Mr. Chungong noted the positive developments in Sri Lanka and the democratic gains. Hon. Speaker stressed the contribution of parliaments and parliamentarians in the democratic process and underscored the need to strengthen parliaments as well as the importance of building networks between the parliaments and parliamentarians. Mr. Chungong agreed with the Speaker to enhance cooperation between Sri Lanka and the IPU.