Statement by H.E. Jayantha Jayasuriya, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka at the Quarterly Open Debate of the Security Council on the Situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestine Question:
Madam. President,
Sri Lanka aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.
We thank the Russian Federation for convening this open debate and for its stewardship of the Council’s work on a matter that is essential to international peace and security.
Madam. President,
After two years of profound human suffering, a renewed sense of hope has emerged with the ceasefire in Gaza. The region has endured far too much suffering. It brings us great relief to witness families reunited, displaced persons returning home, and much-needed humanitarian assistance entering Gaza. These steps must mark crucial progress. But there remains much work to do to achieve a just and lasting peace.
We must build on this momentum with renewed political courage. We commend the significant efforts led by the President of the United States of America and the tireless mediation by the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, and the Republic of Türkiye, as well as the support extended by the broader international community in achieving this first phase of the ceasefire.
However, we regret to witness the breach of this hard-earned ceasefire. Such actions will not benefit the general public in both Palestine and Israel, who are experiencing a much-needed breathing space, following the mayhem that they have encountered over the last two years.
In this context, we urge all parties to adhere fully to the terms of the ceasefire and to ensure that it becomes a durable bridge towards a permanent end to the bloodshed and suffering.
Madam. President,
Tens of thousands of civilians, most of them innocent women and children, have lost their lives. The devastation of homes, hospitals, and schools, and the collapse of essential services, defy comprehension. The images of such human and infrastructural destruction will remain seared into our collective conscience for generations to come. Healing must be all-encompassing, requiring not only the rebuilding of physical structures, but also the restoration of dignity, security, and trust. The people of Gaza must be supported in this effort through immediate humanitarian aid, medical and psychosocial support, and the long-term reconstruction of essential infrastructure.
Madam. President,
The situation in Gaza remains deeply distressing. Sri Lanka recognizes the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to their own State and reiterates the importance of the early implementation of the UN General Assembly resolutions regarding a two-State solution on the basis of the 1967 borders. It is time for the international community to act decisively to bring an end to the suffering of millions.
The humanitarian tragedy in Gaza only makes more urgent the need for restraint and honest dialogue.
Madam. President,
The international community must unite around the shared principles of humanity, justice, and peace. We must support the Palestinian and Israeli peoples in prioritizing peace.
We hope that the ceasefire will be the first step towards a lasting peace: one in which both Israel and Palestine live peacefully side by side, and the children of both nations are free to reach their full potential and thrive.
Thank you.