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Statement by Hon Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka - High Level Segment of the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council - 23 February 2021, Geneva

Tuesday, 23 February 2021

English

 

Madam President,

Madam High Commissioner,

Distinguished Ambassadors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

1.      As I address you today, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has published a report on Sri Lanka accompanied by an unprecedented propaganda campaign on that report.

2.      Sri Lankan heroic armed forces militarily neutralized the LTTE in 2009 after three-decades of conflict. The Sri Lanka Government acted in self-defense to safeguard the unitary state, sovereignty & territorial integrity from the world’s most ruthless separatist terrorist organization.

3.      The LTTE is the only terrorist organization in the world which has killed two world leaders: a serving President of Sri Lanka and a former Prime Minister of India extending its terror beyond the borders of Sri Lanka.

4.      End of terrorism guaranteed the most cherished of all human rights - right to life of all Sri Lankans – Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslims.

5.      Nonetheless hegemonic forces colluded against Sri Lanka in bringing an unsubstantiated resolution against Sri Lanka which was defeated by the support of friendly nations who remain by Sri Lanka’s side even today. Further resolutions were presented to this Council on purely political motives. In each instance Sri Lanka presented the procedural improprieties, and how such processes could set a dangerous precedent affecting all member states of the United Nations.

Statement by H.E. Mohan Peiris, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations at the 2021 ECOSOC Special Meeting - Reimagining Equality: Eliminating racism, xenophobia and discrimination for all in the decade of action for the SDGs

Thursday, 18 February 2021

Mr. President,

Throughout history racism, xenophobia and discrimination have indeed tested our democratic values and the contemporary forms of discrimination presents to us major challenges in our quest for peace and social stability. The unabated tirade of hate speech, a resurgence of nationalist populism and organizations that promote ideologies of racial superiority are debacles for all of us. How do we move beyond the rhetoric and move forward to address these issues? This brings to mind the late President Nelson Mandela when he said and I quote:

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”  - unquote

Statement by H.E. Mohan Peiris, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations at the 2021 ECOSOC Special Meeting - Reimagining Equality: Eliminating racism, xenophobia and discrimination for all in the decade of action for the SDGs

Thursday, 18 February 2021

59th Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD) - Statement by H.E. Mohan Peiris, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations - Monday, 15 February 2021-Virtual meeting

Monday, 15 February 2021

Madam Chairperson,

My delegation takes this opportunity to extend warm felicitations to you and the members of the Bureau on your election. Sri Lanka aligns with the statement made by Guinea on behalf of the Group of 77 & China.

The Commission for Social Development is convening this year while we are at a juncture in our efforts to realize the 2030 Agenda whilst mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is indeed a moment to reflect on how we got here and what the future holds for us. Though we committed in 1995 to implement and monitor the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development, we find ourselves in a situation where poverty, unemployment and social exclusion continue to be rampant unabated in every part of the world. Did we really need to wait until a microscopic virus exposed to us the inequalities that exist in our world order and weaknesses of our current systems to do something about this?

International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers - Virtual Event titled “Early Warning to Early Action: Implementing the Vancouver Principles to Prevent and End the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers” Statement by H.E. Mohan Peiris, PRUN

Friday, 12 February 2021

I wish to thank the Permanent Missions of Canada, Rwanda and Uruguay as well as the UN Department of Peace Operations and the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security for organizing this important event. Particularly, today, as we mark the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers. I cannot but recall the words of Kofi Annan the former Secretary-General when he said “if there is any lesson that we can draw from the experience of the past decade, it is that the use of child soldiers is far more than a humanitarian concern; that its impact lasts far beyond the actual time of fighting; and that the scope of the problem vastly exceeds the number of children directly involved.” I was further encouraged by the reassertion of this thought when the Right Hon. Justin Trudeau the Prime Minister of Canada stated ‘the use of child soldiers have no place in our world ..... by bringing countries together and putting the Vancouver Principles together we can make sure children remain children and build a safer and more just future for all.”

Sri Lanka and Japan conclude the 2nd Policy Dialogue virtually

Wednesday, 10 February 2021

The second round of Sri Lanka - Japan Policy Dialogue at the Senior Official Level of the two Foreign Ministries was held virtually today, 10 February 2021.

Reminiscing the solid foundation of recorded political and cultural interactions between Sri Lanka and Japan, the two sides discussed an array of policy priorities in the national, regional and international levels, and resolved to work together in pursuing the common goals of interest.  

Both sides reviewed and noted key areas for expanding economic cooperation with a special focus on strengthening trade, investment and the development partnership and agreed to further consolidate cooperation in the areas of contemporary relevance. While recognizing the importance of rules based maritime order in the Indian Ocean, the two sides decided to continue joint endeavours in enhancing maritime cooperation and mutual support at multilateral fora. 

His Excellency Mohan Pieris, new Permanent Representative of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the United Nations paid a courtesy call on the Secretary General of the United Nations, His Excellency António Guterres, on 03 February 2021

Tuesday, 09 February 2021

Foreign Ministry to open a Regional Consular Office in Kandy

Friday, 05 February 2021

Under the guidance of the Foreign Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena, to give impetus to the National Policy Framework of the Government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ by enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery to the public, the Foreign Ministry will open a Regional Consular Office in Kandy on Saturday, 06 February 2021 at 2.00 p.m.

The Regional Consular Office which is located at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Information Technology Center in Gatambe, Peradeniya, will be declared open by Minister Gunawardena in the presence of Foreign Secretary Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage.