Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Mr. Petteri Taalas, has assured to collaborate with Sri Lanka in strengthening Meteorological Services for forecasting purposes, which would be more cost effective and could help avoid calamities caused by changes in weather patterns. He said the WMO was in a process of finding more resources to assist developing countries, and that greater opportunities will be provided to Sri Lanka for capacity building and technological upgrading.
The Secretary General made these comments when he met Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha recently at the WMO headquarters in Geneva. Associated with the Ambassador were visiting senior officials of the Department of Meteorology of Sri Lanka - Mr. D. A. Jayasinghearachchi, Director, Mr. A. K. Karunanayake, Director and Ms. C. G. Premachandra, Meteorologist.
The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) adopted the report on Sri Lanka today, 17 November 2017 in Geneva.
Sri Lanka received a total of 230 recommendations from Member States and accepted 177 recommendations while it noted 53 recommendations. Sri Lanka also made 12 voluntary pledges. The Head of the Sri Lanka delegation, Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, MP, Deputy Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs made his closing remarks during the adoption.
Remarks by the Deputy Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
17 November 2017
Third Cycle of Sri Lanka’s Review at the 28th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group is being held on Wednesday, 15 November 2017 in Geneva.
The Sri Lanka’s delegation to the review is led by the Deputy Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva. The delegation comprised of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Attorney-General’s Department, the President’s Office, and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva.
Full Statement of the Opening Statement delivered by Dr. Harsha de Silva , (Word Format)
Concluding Remarks made by Hon. (Dr.) Harsha De Silva ,MP, Deputy Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs.
Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam , Secretary Foreign Affairs made interventions on Torture, Office of the Missing Persons and Transitional Justice.
Mr. Nerin Pulle, Deputy Solicitor General at the Attorney General’s Department made interventions on Hate Speech & Minority Rights, Sexual & Gender based Violence, LGBTIQ and Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
Ms. Chandima Wickremesinghe, Senior Assistant Secretary to the President, made intervention on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
15 November 2017
Sri Lanka's Report under the Universal Periodic Review comes up for consideration by the OHCHR Working Group on UPR on Wednesday 15 November 2017, in Geneva.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in 2006, as a process through which the human rights record of every UN Member State is peer-reviewed.
This review, conducted through the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), is based upon each country’s human rights obligations and commitments in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights instruments to which the country is party, and other sources. During the process, the country under review submits a written report on its human rights record, and appears before the Council, where it receives recommendations regarding its human rights record from other UN Member States. The country under review is able to ‘accept’ or ‘note’ these recommendations. Those accepted form the basis for future reporting.
Sri Lanka's Report under the Universal Periodic Review comes up for consideration by the OHCHR Working Group on UPR on Wednesday 15 November 2017, in Geneva.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in 2006, as a process through which the human rights record of every UN Member State is peer-reviewed.
This review, conducted through the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), is based upon each country’s human rights obligations and commitments in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights instruments to which the country is party, and other sources. During the process, the country under review submits a written report on its human rights record, and appears before the Council, where it receives recommendations regarding its human rights record from other UN Member States. The country under review is able to ‘accept’ or ‘note’ these recommendations. Those accepted form the basis for future reporting.
Secretary General of the United National Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Dr. Mikhisa Kituyi has assured the Minister of Science, Technology and Research Susil Premajayantha that the UNCTAD stands ready to assist with Sri Lanka’s Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review (STIP) and to explore modalities of technical assistance and a strategy for mobilizing the funding required.
This assurance was given by the UNCTAD SG, following consultations Minister Premajayantha had in Geneva last week with Senior Officials of the UNCTAD.
During his meetings, the Minister noted that consistent with the SDGs set by the UN, Sri Lanka was working with the relevant Ministries, Institutions, private sector and civil societies in order to achieve targets set by 2030. He emphasized the need to explore avenues to strengthen relations between UNCTAD and the Government of Sri Lanka to promote Science, Technology and Innovation for SDG achievement in Sri Lanka and to assess a policy review on Science, Technology and Innovation in Sri Lanka.
A parliamentary delegation led by the Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka paid an official visit to St. Petersburg, Russia to participate in the 137th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, held from 14-18, October 2017.
The Sri Lankan delegation also included Hon. Thalatha Atukorale, Minister of Foreign Employment and Minister of Justice, Hon. Lakshman Senewiratne, State Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Hon. Mavai S. Senathirajah, Member of Parliament, Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake, Secretary-General of Parliament, and the Chief of Protocol of the Parliament Mr. Upali Kumarasinghe. The delegation was also joined by His Excellency Dr. Saman Weerasinghe, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia and Mr. Dulmith Waruna, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia.
- Sri Lanka Pledges US $ 50,000 to assist the Rohingaya Refugee Crisis
- Deputy Minister Manusha Nanayakkara participates in the Seventh Global Meeting of Chairs and Secretariats of Regional Consultative Processes on Migration in Geneva
- Deputy Minister of Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara discusses bilateral cooperation with IOM in Geneva