Statement by H.E. Jayantha Jayasuriya, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
High-level Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution
30 July 2025
Excellencies,
Sri Lanka appreciates France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their leadership in driving this much needed multilateral effort to promote a peaceful resolution of the Question of Palestine and the implementation of the Two-State solution.
Whilst Sri Lanka condemns the brutal attacks on 07th October 2023, the unending catastrophic situation we see on a daily basis, since then has resulted unimaginable human suffering in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The overwhelming majority of dead are women and children. Sri Lanka’s solidarity with the Palestinian people remains consistent.
The only realistic and lasting way to achieve peace is through a two-state solution. The Middle East, which was once a cradle of civilizations and a land of profound spiritual significance, today is facing peril.
Excellencies,
The end of starvation in Gaza is also as important as agreeing on an immediate ceasefire. Sri Lanka is alarmed that the civilians lining up for humanitarian aid in Gaza are being killed. We urge the authorities to lift restrictions on aid operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and call for a return to UN-led delivery mechanisms.
The UN and its agencies must be allowed to perform their crucial mandates. Sri Lanka recognizes the central role played by UNRWA as the legitimate body tasked with supporting Palestinian refugees. In this regard, we deeply regret the loss of over 300 lives of the UNRWA staff. UN agencies or their staff should not be victims or subjects of harassment for performing their mandate under international obligations.
Co-Chairs,
As the Chair of the ‘Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories’, it is our firm belief that peace in the OPT will remain unattainable as long as the underlying issues — occupation, blockade, and the refusal to recognize Palestinian self-determination — continue to exist.
Therefore, we must recognize the legitimate and inalienable right of the Palestine people to statehood.
Sri Lanka has consistently supported a just and comprehensive negotiated political settlement to the Palestine issue in line with UN resolutions, leading to two States living side-by-side based on the 1967 borders.
Co-chairs,
Sri Lanka recognizes the legitimate security concerns of both Israeli and Palestinian people and acknowledges the suffering that people of both sides have experienced due to decades of violence and conflict. This is the exact reason why Sri Lanka maintains that dialogue remains the only viable option to effectively address the issues of both parties, and the region as a whole.
In the interest of achieving a peaceful solution for this long-standing dispute, we suggest to consider the following immediate steps to save the lives of thousands of affected innocent civilians;
- An immediate ceasefire
- Release of all hostages of both parties, including children and women, as a catalyst for building trust.
- Allow UNRWA and other UN agencies to carry out their mandates in Palestine, including in OPTs, without any obstruction.
- A UN-monitored mechanism to disarm all military groups in Palestine.
- Immediate halt of new settler programmes in the OPT
- Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations, which has been endorsed by the UN General Assembly at the 10th Emergency Special Session.
Excellencies,
Despite the deep-rooted tensions and complicated realities, decades of global agreement point to the two-state solution as the most viable path ahead. This approach is not just a matter of political practicality — but based on historical context, legal principles, and the shared right of Israelis and Palestinians to statehood.
Sri Lanka hopes that this Conference will move beyond expressions of support or censure and propel action towards peace for the region.
I thank you.