Statement by Her Excellency Himalee Subhashini Arunatilaka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva on behalf of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Chair of the 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 an honor to join you on this solemn observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The convening of this gathering reminds us of the international community’s enduring responsibility towards people whose inalienable rights remain unfulfilled.
I am also humbled to address this meeting in my capacity as Chair of the Committee mandated by the General Assembly to monitor the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the occupied Syrian Golan. This role allows me to share reflections informed by the Committee’s observations over the past year.
This Day of Solidarity was declared by the General Assembly in 1977 and was first observed in 1978. For nearly half a century, it has stood as a reminder that the search for peace and justice for the Palestinian people remains unfinished.
In reviewing developments, the Committee has continued to witness conditions that undermine the fundamental rights and protections of Palestinians living under occupation.
The situation in the Gaza Strip remains catastrophic.
Over the past two years, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, most of them women and children, with thousands more believed to lie beneath destroyed neighborhoods. Entire communities have been reduced to rubble. Homes, hospitals, schools and essential infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed, leaving most of the population displaced and many areas uninhabitable.
Large sections of the territory have been declared unsafe or inaccessible. Even areas identified as safe zones have come under fire. By the middle of 2025, more than four-fifths of Gaza had been placed under evacuation orders or declared no-go areas, leaving civilians with no reliable refuge.
These conditions persist despite binding provisional measures, as clarified by the International Court of Justice in its recent advisory opinions, and despite repeated calls for compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law. Humanitarian access remains restricted, and humanitarian and United Nations staff have been killed at levels without precedent in the history of this Organization.
The situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has sharply deteriorated. The Committee has documented unprecedented levels of settler violence, often occurring in the presence of, or with the acquiescence of security forces. Palestinians have endured killings, injuries, mass arrests and widespread property destruction.
Settlement expansion continues at a record pace. Of particular concern is the resumption of land registration in Area C after more than five decades. This step is expected to lead to widespread dispossession and deeper settlement entrenchment. These developments amount to de facto annexation and stand in clear violation of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
Across the territories under occupation, we observe an overarching pattern.
Territorial control is being consolidated through settlement expansion, land appropriation, military activity and the erosion of protections afforded to civilians. The ideological framework - Land of Israel - has been used to justify settlement growth, annexation initiatives and the continued presence of military forces in parts of Gaza.
In light of these developments, several principles must guide the international community. Civilians must be protected under international humanitarian and human rights law. Annexation, whether formal or incremental, is unlawful. Humanitarian access must be unrestricted, and humanitarian and United Nations personnel must be protected. The mandate and operations of UNRWA must be preserved, for the Agency remains essential to the dignity and survival of millions of Palestine refugees.
On this Day of Solidarity, expressions of commitment must translate into meaningful action. Member States must uphold international law, protect civilians and support accountability mechanisms, including those tasked with investigating and addressing violations.
While a ceasefire is essential – and widely welcomed as a moment of relief - it cannot substitute the full implementation of legal obligations, including the need to bring an end to occupation. A just and lasting peace requires the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination.
Let this Day remind us that solidarity is a commitment to justice, human dignity, and to the rule of law. The only prospect to express our solidarity with the Palestinian people is to recognize the legitimate and inalienable right of the Palestinian people to statehood as per the comprehensively negotiated political settlement based on the 1967 borders.
I thank you."
Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol, and Head of Sri Lanka´s delegation to the COP11 of the FCTC, Dr. Ananda Rathnayaka, highlighted Sri Lanka’s achievements including the challenges faced and lessons learned in implementing the FCTC in the Sri Lanka at a side-event titled ‘Success Stories in Tobacco Control: Lessons Learned from FCTC Policy Implementation’ organized by the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control, on 20 November 2025.
The side event was held on the margins of the COP11 of the WHO FCTC, being held from 17-22 November 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. The side event also showcased the success stories from Mexico, and Ghana
Statement by Dr. Ananda Rathnayaka, Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) at the General Debate of the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (COP11) on 18 November 2025
Madam President, Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Guests,
Thank you very much for the opportunity,
Sri Lanka was the first country in our region to ratify and sign the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Since then, we have remained steadfast in upholding its principles and values, guided by the convention that protecting our people from the harms of tobacco is essential to securing a healthy planet and a healthy future for generations to come.
The Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, undertook an official visit to Sri Lanka from 3 to 8 November 2025. The visit marked a significant milestone in the longstanding friendly relations between the Holy See and Sri Lanka, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) was signed on 30 October 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Statement to the Media by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism of Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath following the Working Meeting with H.E. the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See
- Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher to visit Sri Lanka
- Hon. Sunil Watagala, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs and the Leader of the Parliamentarian Delegation addressed the General Debate of the 151st Assembly of the IPU on 21 October 2025, in Geneva