Statement delivered by Her Excellency Himalee Arunatilaka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva on behalf of 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
Mr. President,
On the solemn occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, I thank you for the opportunity to deliver this statement in my capacity 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.
34th Conference of the ICRC: ´Navigate Uncertainty, Strengthen Humanity’
28 to 31 October 2024, Geneva
‘For the Record: Voices from the Conference’
Statement by Sri Lanka
Madam Chair
Sri Lanka conveys its deep and profound appreciation to the ICRC, the IFRC and the National Societies for their leading role across the world in forming the largest humanitarian network.
This Conference coincides with the 75th Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, that codified the fundamental principles of IHL. In line with Sri Lanka's commitment to these principles the National IHL Committee with the technical assistance from the ICRC has translated the Geneva Conventions into the vernacular languages, Sinhala and Tamil.
Multiple conflicts are ongoing around the world, including in the Middle East where the people of Gaza have been subjected to untold suffering for over a year.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka, the Embassy of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions in an event themed “75 years of the Geneva Conventions: Global and Sri Lankan Perspectives” on 14 August 2024 at the BMICH in Colombo.
Statement by Sri Lanka at the General Debate of the 71st Annual Session of the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) programme
Mr. Chairperson,
High Commissioner Mr. Filippo Grandi,
Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,
Sri Lanka takes this opportunity to congratulate you and the Bureau for the excellent manner in which you have steered the work of the Executive Committee since assumption of Office in 2019.
We appreciate the presentation by the High Commissioner and his important remarks on the on how the Global Compact on Refugees has enabled the response to both new and protracted refugee crises, as well as to the COVID-19 emergency. We value his efforts and those of his dedicated staff for their continuous efforts to assist and improve the well-being of over 79.5 million displaced persons worldwide with a view to ensuring sustainable solutions for their concerns. Unfortunately, as per the global trends, the numbers keep on rising, while possibilities for durable solutions become complicated by the day.
Speaking at the General Debate of the 70th session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, outlined measures taken by Sri Lanka to address the issue of statelessness. The meeting, chaired by Ambassador Boudjemâa Delmi of Algeria, takes place from 7-11 October 2019, with the participation of Mr. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Full Statement by Ambassador Azeez
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
09th October 2019
At the 2019 Global Appeal of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) held in Geneva today, Sri Lanka expressed its earnest desire that the commitments made by the international community to the recently adopted Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) would remain on course, emphasizing “transforming the Compact into meaningful, practical measures would help address the protection needs of millions of people who remain helpless and in need”.
Addressing the Conference, Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in Geneva echoed optimism that, at a time when “the principles and values of international cooperation have come under immense pressure”, “the GCR has emerged as a rallying point for multilateralism and solidarity”, as reiterated in the UNHCR’s Global Appeal Update, and highlighted the more pronounced role of UNHCR in this context.
The Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva met with President of the ICRC Mr. Peter Maurer at the ICRC Headquarters today. Referring to various measures taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to address humanitarian aspects involved in peacebuilding and reconciliation, Mr. Maurer noted the recent progress achieved in establishing and operationalizing the Office of Missing Persons (OMP).
Ambassador Azeez conveyed the appreciation of the Government of Sri Lanka for technical assistance provided by the ICRC particularly at the preparatory stages of work relating to draft policy and legal framework and structure of OMP.
Mr. Peter Maurer commended Sri Lanka for becoming a State party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Treaty) and the Convention on Cluster Munitions (Oslo Treaty), which he noted “sent a positive signal regarding the range of commitments that Sri Lanka has undertaken in humanitarian disarmament”.
Ambassador Azeez said Sri Lanka looked forward to further cooperation with the ICRC on technical expertise and capacity building in areas of shared priority.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
23 May 2018
Sri Lanka pledged an un-earmarked voluntary contribution of 15,000 US$ towards the UNHCR Global Appeal 2018-2019 at the UNHCR Pledging Conference held on 05th December 2017 in Geneva. The Global Appeal 2018-2019 by the UNHCR presents the requirement of financial resources that amounts to USD 7.508 billion for 2018 and USD 7.352 billion for 2019, to protect and improve the lives of millions of people, including refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people (IDPs), returnees, stateless people, and others of concern.
Addressing the UNHCR Pledging Conference, Ambassador Aryasinha appreciated the assistance extended by UNHCR to Sri Lanka in the resettlement process of IDPs and returnees in the provision of shelter, livelihoods and basic household items and assured Sri Lanka’s cooperation to Mr. High Commissioner for his endeavours.
Statement By Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
5 December 2017
Sri Lanka has pledged US $ 50,000 towards the fund to assist the Rohingaya refugees and the host community in Bangladesh.
This pledge was announced by the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN Ravinatha Aryasinha, at the Pledging Conference for the Rohingaya Refugee Crisis held today (23.10.2017) at Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Sri Lanka commended the Government of Bangladesh for hosting the Rohingaya refugees including the recent influx, under challenging conditions. It was noted that the humanitarian exigencies of the Rohingaya refugees have to be the shared responsibility of the international community due to its sheer magnitude.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
23 October 2017
68th session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), held during the period 2-6 October 2017 in Geneva at the United Nations. Ms. Rosemary McCarney, Canadian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations chaired the meeting with the presence of High Commissioner of UNHCR, Mr. Filippo Grandi.
Ambassador Ravintha Aryasinha, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations made an intervention under the general debateof 68th ExCom.
Full statement
9 October 2017
Sri Lanka Permanent Mission
Geneva
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filipo Grandi, has said the UNHCR “will continue to work on, the return of those Sri Lankans that wants to return, solutions for internally displaced people and commendable work that the Government is doing for the statelessness”. The High Commissioner made this observation, in response to the national statement of Sri Lanka delivered by Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha, at the 67th Session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR, held in Geneva this week.
Sri Lanka has called on refugee receiving countries to expedite the processes of finalizing resettlement claims and to also assist UNHCR to enhance its resource capacity, in order to overcome present difficulties being experienced in Sri Lanka on account of rapid influx of refugees/asylum seekers.
Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva and CDA a.i. Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya in a statement to the 65th Session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR on Thursday in Geneva (2 October 2014), said despite not being a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Sri Lanka has been accommodating refugees/ asylum seekers in the country. However, during the last two years Sri Lanka witnessed an almost 700% increase in the arrival of asylum seekers/refugees, resulting in serious law & order, security, as well as health related issues for Sri Lanka. While being sensitive to the humanitarian aspects of asylum seekers/refugees, the Government has sought UNHCR’s assistance in addressing related issues including establishment of a safe house/welfare centre for identified refugees until they are resettlement, regularization of the return of asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected, expediting the resettlement process; and ensuring adequate facilities and monetary assistance provided to Asylum seekers until their claims are processed or resettlement is found. However these issues remain largely unresolved and Sri Lanka urges UNHCR to work closely with the Government to resolve these issues.
Addressing the 63rd Session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR on Tuesday (2 October) Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha said, "those who downplay the significance of Sri Lanka's post-conflict achievements and constantly keep shifting goal posts, show disrespect not only to Sri Lanka and its international partners whose steadfast commitment to this task has made these achievements possible, but also to those who have at last emerged from the suffering caused by 30 years of terrorist conflict".
Sri Lanka is a country with an established tradition of democratic government. Fundamental rights are guaranteed in our Constitution and every organ of State is under a duty to respect, secure and advance these rights and freedoms said Hon.Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe addressing the meeting held in the UN Office in Geneva on 17 July to launch the "Humanitarian Appeal 2007: Mid-Year Review" organised by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva. Hon. Minister was present at the occasion on the invitation by Mr. John Holms, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. The Mid-Year Review of the 2007 Common Humanitarian Action Plan of the UN requests the international donor community to contribute US$ 98 million towards humanitarian operations in Sri Lanka.
Mr. President,
Let me, first of all, congratulate you for leading this important Humanitarian Affairs Segment in this year’s Substantive session of the ECOSOC and express sincere appreciation of my delegation to the Bureau and the UN Secretariat for the excellent arrangement made in preparation of this meeting.
I would like to begin with by expressing my Delegation’s sincere appreciation for the excellent work done by the UN Secretariat in preparing for this meeting. At the same time I thank you in leading the efforts of this important Humanitarian Affairs Segment in this years’ substantive Session of ECOSOC.
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