The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a list of names published online by the ITJP (International Truth and Justice Project). According to the ITJP, this list, which presently consists of 351 names and can be accessed at http://www.disappearance.itjpsl.com/#lang=english is of persons who are alleged to have disappeared while in the custody of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces in May 2009.
The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) which has been established by an Act of Parliament (Act No. 14 of 2016 as amended by Act No. 09 of 2017) is the permanent and independent entity in Sri Lanka that is vested with the tasks of, inter alia, searching and tracing of missing persons and clarifying the circumstances in which such persons went missing, and their fate; making recommendations to the relevant authorities towards reducing the incidents of missing persons; protecting the rights and interests of missing persons and their relatives; and identifying proper avenues of redress to which such missing persons or their relatives may have recourse.
Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges and encourages anyone in Sri Lanka or overseas to kindly share with the Office on Missing Persons:
-any further/additional/detailed information pertaining to persons whose names have been listed by the ITJP and the circumstances under which they went missing;
-any other lists/information that may be available with anyone/ entity pertaining to any individuals including lists of security forces and police personnel, who may be considered to be missing, as defined by Section 27 of the Act.
Kindly direct any information available to:
Chairperson,
Office on Missing Persons,
Address: 34, Narahenpita Road, Nawala, Sri Lanka
E-mail: <ompsrilanka@gmail.com>;
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka
Colombo 1
20 June 2018
[1]http://www.parliament.lk/uploads/acts/gbills/english/6016.pdf
http://www.parliament.lk/uploads/acts/gbills/english/6045.pdf
As part of a series of meetings that Ambassador A.L.A Azeez, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative, had with Heads of UN and other agencies in Geneva, he called on H.E. Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 18 May 2018. Having warmly received Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative, High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein conveyed to Ambassador Azeez his best wishes for the new assignment while appreciating the Government of Sri Lanka for the continuing cooperative engagement with his Office and the Council.
Ambassador Azeez elaborated the various measures taken by the Government of Sri Lanka, especially since 2015, to improve and advance human rights, highlighting areas in which further work was continuing and progress was being made. High Commissioner shared his perspectives on matters of priority interest to both sides and specifically noted the positive contribution of technical assistance in areas on which Sri Lanka required capacity building and other forms of support.
Peacebuilding and reconciliation, protection and promotion of human rights, rule of law and other concerns including developments in the wider region were among the matters discussed.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
30 May 2018
Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Sri Lanka Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, delivering a Statement on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka at the 28th Special Session of the Human Rights Council today, 18 May 2018, emphasized that the security of all civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) should receive the utmost consideration and that their human rights should be upheld and protected at all times.
He further stressed "Diplomacy and political leadership still have immense potential to carry dialogue through to success if pursued diligently, having regard to the fundamentals of a Two State solution".
Full Statement , Sinhala, Tamil
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
18 May 2018
Addressing experts, Governments, and other participants at the Intersessional Expert Meeting on the full enjoyment of human rights by all women and girls and the systematic mainstreaming of gender perspective into the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva stated “It is incumbent on all stakeholders to strive to create a culture of respect for equality and non-discrimination and to work towards dispelling the myth of inferiority attributed to women over centuries”. He called for all stakeholders to work together to ensure a dignified life and a better future for all women and girls.
The Intersessional Expert Meeting began its two day session in Geneva today, with the opening remarks of Ms. Kate Gilmore, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, followed by presentations by experts representing different UN agencies and an interactive dialogue.
“Carefully thought-through and targeted approaches geared to empowering women”, Ambassador Azeez stated, were “imperative for the effective advancement of development goals in national and international programmes.”
He emphasized that ensuring access to quality health services and quality education would significantly improve life chances and better employment opportunities for women and girls. “Such empowered women and girls can bring transformational improvements in the health and prosperity of families, communities, societies and nations they live in”, he remarked.
Sharing the experiences of Sri Lanka in recent times, he outlined the measures taken by the Government to address challenges faced by women, such as the adoption of a National Action Plan for prevention of gender based violence (GBV) and the National Human Rights Action Plan (2017-2021) as well as the enactment of legislation aimed at increasing women representation in local governing authorities.
Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative reiterated that achieving gender equality was not just an issue of women and girls, and that it went way beyond, calling for the active involvement of all stakeholders.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
2 May 2018
While individual States have the primary responsibility for national development, the need for further collective efforts and collaboration, between States and between numerous stakeholders, in addressing poverty, disasters, conflicts and health hazards are imperative, Sri Lanka said on 23rd April 2018, addressing the General Debate of the 19th Session of the Working Group on Right to Development (RtD). Sri Lanka’s Delegate Minister Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva Ms. Shashika Somaratne, while taking note of the progress made so far by the Working Group, reiterated the call for finalizing as a matter of urgency, the criteria and the operational sub-criteria, which are being under negotiation since 2010. In this context, she drew attention to the proposal by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), on a set of standards regarding the implementation of the Right to Development and the non-paper aimed at finalizing the consideration of the criteria and sub-criteria with a view, to facilitate the process.
In this context she further said that in Sri Lanka, the Government through its “Vision 2025 : A Country Enriched” policy document, has now launched a comprehensive framework to alleviate poverty, address regional disparities within the country, and promote prosperity to all its people, with a view to ensuring the holistic realization of Human Rights while implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. In addition, the Sustainable Development Act has been enacted by the Parliament in October 2017, and Sri Lanka will share its experience during the June 2018 High Level Political Forum (HLPF) of the ECOSOC in New York, by submitting its National Voluntary Review (NVR), on “Transformation towards Sustainable Resilient Societies”.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to UN in Geneva
24th April 2018
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Hon. Tilak Marapana, PC., MP, addressed the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) following the presentation of the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Sri Lanka by Ms. Kate Gilmore, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, today 21 March 2018.
Hon. (Dr) Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Special Assignments, Hon. Faiszer Musthapha, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, 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, Addl.Secretary/EU, Commonwealth and Multilateral Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nerin Pulle, Deputy Solicitor General, Attorney General’s Department, Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, Ms. Mahishini Colonne, Director General/UN, US and Canada of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prashanthi Mahindaratne, Advisor to the Hon. Prime Minister and the diplomatic officers of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva were associated with the Foreign Minister.
Full Statement by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs
Festina Lente document as at 20 March 2018
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to UN in Geneva
21 March 2018
The adoption of the Universal Periodic Review Report on Sri Lanka took place this afternoon at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Sri Lanka was represented by Permanent Representative Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha and assisted by the Deputy Permanent Representative Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya.
The Statement made by Ambassador Aryasinha
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to UN in Geneva
19 March 2018
- Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) considers Sri Lanka Report at its 77th Session
- Adoption of the Working Group Report of the Third Cycle of Sri Lanka’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the 28th Session of the UPR Working Group, 17 November 2017 in Geneva
- Third Cycle of Sri Lanka’s Review at the 28th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group, 15 November 2017 in Geneva