Foreign Minister-led delegation returns from Geneva
February 29, 2020 10:16 pm
The Sri Lankan delegation led by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has returned to the island after attending the 43rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva.
They reached the island at around 4.10 pm this evening (29) on board a flight belonging to the Emirates.
The Foreign Minister yesterday (28) met the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and reiterated the Sri Lankan Government’s decision to withdraw from co-sponsorship of resolution 40/1 and the basis for doing so.
Notwithstanding the withdrawal from co-sponsorship, the Foreign Minister has emphasized the Government’s commitment to achieving accountability and human rights within the framework of the Constitution towards sustainable peace and reconciliation, through the appointment of a domestic Commission of Inquiry, by implementing policies rooted in the Government’s commitments to operationalize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and by continuing to work with the assistance of the UN and its agencies.
Regretting Sri Lanka’s withdrawal as a co-sponsor of the HRC Resolution on Sri Lanka, the High Commissioner appreciated the Government’s assurance to the HRC of its continued cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner and UN bodies, and the observations on the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations.
