Sri Lankan Human Rights Minister
briefs Regional Groups and High Commissioner Louise Arbour in Geneva
The Permanent Mission of
Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva
30th November 2007
The Sri Lankan Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda
Samarasinghe undertook a two day visit from 29th to 30th November 2007
to Geneva to brief Regional, Cross-Regional Groups and the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights on the latest efforts undertaken
by the Government of Sri Lanka regarding human rights.
During the meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights Ms. Louise Arbour, Minister Samarasinghe discussed a possible
working arrangement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the High
Commissioner's Office. These discussions are a follow up to those held
during the visit of the High Commissioner to Sri Lanka from 9 to 13
October 2007. Minister Samarasinghe ruled out the establishment of a
full fledged OHCHR field presence in Sri Lanka and proposed an alternative
national structure. He requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights
to continue further discussions with the Government of Sri Lanka in
the hope of reaching an agreement.
Minister Samarasinghe explained that Sri Lanka was facing a national
security challenge from one of the most ruthless terrorist organizations
in the world and brought to the attention of the High Commissioner and
the Regional Groups the terrorist attacks that took place in Sri Lanka
on Wednesday. Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka who was present at the meetings
with Minister Samarasinghe pointed out that it was ironic that a polio
afflicted female suicide bomber had targeted the Minister for Social
Service and Social Welfare Douglas Devananda who had earlier this year
signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on
behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.
During the briefings held at the United Nations Office at Geneva (Palais
des Nations), Minister Samarasinghe explained to Ambassadors from all
Regional and Cross-Regional Groups the consolidated position of the
Government of Sri Lanka with regard to a possible working arrangement
between Sri Lanka - a sovereign state - and the OHCHR.
He further emphasized the need for a home grown model which should
be practicable and acceptable to the elected Government and the majority
of the people of Sri Lanka. He ruled out the imposition or superimposition
of any supranational structure to address the human rights situation
in Sri Lanka which has been an independent state for almost 60 years
and is a functioning democracy that has enjoyed Universal Adult Franchise
since 1931.
Minister Samarasinghe further briefed them on the openness shown by
the Government and the unhindered access provided to the High Commissioner
for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on Torture Mr. Manfred Nowak
to fulfil their mandates freely and independently during their visits
in Sri Lanka. He also pointed out that the Government facilitated even
confidential meetings with civil society organizations and various political
parties including in conflict affected areas. He stated that this signifies
the commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka to the dialogue and to
the cooperation with the international community.
Ambassadors from the Asian Group, African Group, Eastern European Group,
the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC), and the Western
European and Others Group (WEOG), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), participated in the briefings.
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