The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 23 to 26 June 2025. This marks the first visit by a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Sri Lanka since February 2016.
During the visit, the High Commissioner is scheduled to call on the President and the Prime Minister. He will also hold meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, several other Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior Government officials, religious leaders, representatives of civil society, members of the diplomatic community, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.
As part of the programme, the High Commissioner will travel to Kandy where he will pay respects to The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and call on the Chief Prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters. He will also travel to Jaffna and Trincomalee where he will meet with the Governors of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Substantive discussions during the visit will focus on further advancing the promotion and protection of human rights and reconciliation, in line with the Government of Sri Lanka’s ongoing constructive engagement with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism
Colombo
20 June 2025
Mr. President,
This session of the Council is taking place amidst multiple global challenges, threats to multilateralism and international institutions, while hunger, conflict and climatic disasters are threatening the very survival of millions across the world. The need for international cooperation and dialogue have never been more essential, than at the present juncture. It is timely to reflect the founding principles of this Council and adopt an approach that addresses the pressing human rights challenges of today.
Sri Lanka remains an active partner in the multilateral framework, despite domestic challenges facing its people. The Government of President Anura Kumara Disanayaka has undertaken substantive efforts towards introducing a new political culture, addressing corruption and prioritizing economic revival, while reaffirming commitment towards meaningful reconciliation through domestic institutions.
A number of initiatives have been undertaken to strengthen the national anti-corruption framework, supported by a stronger, more independent Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, reflecting the Government’s firm intention to build a corruption-free society where fairness, integrity, and accountability shape every aspect of governance.
To enhance the independence and transparency of the criminal justice system and improve public trust, the Govt is seeking to expedite legal proceedings through the creation of an independent public prosecutor´s office. The Prevention of Terrorism Act is to be repealed following a review of the existing legislation.
The domestic independent mechanisms and processes working on missing persons, reparations and reconciliation, are continuing their work within the Constitutional framework. Increased engagement of the public with the work of these institutions showcase the growing public trust in their activities.
At a time when the UN human rights framework is facing challenges, Sri Lanka believes that the Council must prioritize thematic issues like food security, health, development and climate change that need to be addressed urgently for the benefit of humankind. Ensuring that the Council's actions lead to tangible improvements through a fair approach in human rights situations is essential.
Human Rights situations must be assessed with impartiality, non-selectivity and objectivity.
Mr. President,
Sri Lanka remains committed to engaging in a constructive spirit of dialogue and cooperation with the members of the United Nations including this Council within our national legal framework. In this context, we look forward to receiving the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sri Lanka later this month. Thank you
Mr. Coordinator,
I would also like to join others to appreciate the manner that you guide the discussion in this Subsidiary Body.
Sri Lanka reaffirms its unwavering commitment to nuclear disarmament and the establishment of robust legally binding security assurances to protect non-nuclear-weapon states from nuclear threats which is long overdue and has been in the CD agenda since its inception in 1979. The Final Document of Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD-I) in 1978 and subsequent review Conferences of the NPT had also outlined the need for such assurances.
While recognizing that the nuclear-weapon States have provided certain security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States through UN Security Council resolutions, unilateral declarations and various pledges as well as taking efforts in establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, it is noted that such voluntary commitments are non-binding and attach conditions. Nuclear-weapon-free zones also do not cover all regions. Today, we see the real challenges in the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
Therefore, the only effective guarantee against nuclear threats is the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Pending this, Sri Lanka urges the Conference on Disarmament (CD) to start substantive work on concluding an international legally-binding instrument providing unconditional guarantees to non-nuclear-weapon States.
Towards this direction, the overlapping elements and shared principles of the existing unilateral declarations, Security Council resolutions, and protocols to establish Nuclear Weapons Free Zones could be perceived as a starting point for negotiations. The unresolved questions such as;
i. which States should give the assurance: whether the States Parties to the NPT or all nuclear armed States and;
ii. which States would be eligible to receive the assurance
need to be resolved through inclusive negotiation.
Sri Lanka emphasizes that effective international arrangements for negative security assurances must address both immediate security concerns as well as long-term disarmament goals. It is also essential to strengthen the IAEA safeguards under Article III of the NPT to ensure compliance, enhance transparency measures, real-time monitoring and to ensure peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Sri Lanka was one of the earliest supporters of Nuclear Weapon Free Zones. At the 1964 Non-Aligned Summit in Cairo, the leading role played by the then Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike led the summit to issue a declaration in favor of global “denuclearized zones”. Sri Lanka advocated for extending Nuclear Weapon Free Zones to cover not only land masses but also the oceans, reflecting its forward-thinking approach to nuclear disarmament. Also allow me to recall that in 1971, Sri Lanka made an indelible mark on the world stage by being instrumental in the passage of a historic resolution at the United Nations to declare the Indian Ocean region and its airspace as a Zone of Peace. As the Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Sri Lanka continues to foster its enduring commitment to promoting peace, unity & stability in the region. Our longstanding approach to non-alignment and advocacy for complete elimination of nuclear weapons, has positioned Sri Lanka as a credible partner in support of Nuclear Weapon Free Zones.
As the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, the CD must act decisively to fulfill its mandate and must prioritize drafting a legally binding agreement on security assurances for non-nuclear states without further delay and this could be the lowest hanging fruit to break the impasse. Therefore, we extend our support to the Subsidiary Body 4 to expedite discussions on concrete measures to negotiate an unconditional, legally binding instrument for negative security assurances, including verification mechanisms for compliance.
Thank you
Minister of Labour Anil Jayantha Fernandodelivered a statement at the ASPAG (Asia-Pacific Group) Ministerial Meeting, convened by Japan as the coordinator on 11 June 2025 on the sidelines of the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) and highlighted the Government's focus on improving compliance, fostering decent working conditions, promoting access to information, making the labour market more inclusive and responsive to the evolving needs of both workers and employers and investing in digital solutions to enhance labour inspection, complaints management and social security systems.
Hon. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour paid a courtesy call on Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General, International Labour Organization (#ILO) on 10 June 2025.
During the meeting, updates on the legal measures and actions taken by the government to reform the labour laws and matters related to technical assistance, human resource development, capacity building and internship programmes were discussed.
Hon. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour, leading the tripartite delegation to the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, addressed the Plenary Sitting of the on 10 June 2025 and highlighted the Government's focus on promoting decent work, occupational safety and health, closing the gender pay gap, supporting the care economy, and ensuring protections for all workers, including those in the informal, precarious, and gig economies.
Mr. Coordinator,
I would also like to join others to appreciate the manner that you guide the discussion in this Subsidiary Body.
Sri Lanka wishes to underscore that discussing the key terms and definitions and their limitations should not prejudge or hinder any future negotiations of a comprehensive legally binding instrument in PAROS.
The existing normative and legal framework governing outer space security has not evolved at the same pace to address the rapidly increasing threats posed by technical advancements and their consequences.
Therefore, it is essential that the evolution of space law should align with current and future realities and emerging threats in the outer space domain and must consider the gaps in the existing legal regime in all aspects.
Sri Lanka has been engaging for decades in advocating for a legally binding instrument in PAROS. UNGA resolution 79/19 titled ‘prevention of an arms race in outer space’ which is presented by Sri Lanka together with Egypt annually emphasizes “the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space” while referring to the important work carried out so far in multilateral fora on outer space disarmament. We understand that the current challenges and complexities of definition on weapon in outer space and key concepts and verification should be addressed in a very comprehensive and inclusive manner and would not block the ultimate goals of prevention of arms race in outer space.
As emphasized by the Outer Space Treaty, space is to be used for peaceful purposes, and therefore, legally binding provisions prohibiting all types of weapons in outer space considering the current and future potentials, should be sufficiently broad enough to cover any type of weapons including but not limited to ground-based anti-satellite (ASAT) systems that target space assets, dual- use technologies such as satellites with civilian and military applications, any space systems with civilian applications which is weaponizable, Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cyber weapons targeting space assets’ ground control stations or satellite command systems etc.
As entrusted in the Outer Space Treaty ‘exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries and shall be the province of all mankind’.
It is also essential to give due consideration to the voice of developing countries that rely on peaceful uses of outer space and space-based assets, particularly satellite technology for communication, transport, disaster management, and climate impact monitoring and resilience as destructive impact on such systems could paralyze civilian life. Regional consultations and dialogues particularly among the non-spacefaring states would be essential to ensure inclusivity when discussing these aspects in future.
Sri Lanka also takes this opportunity to underscore that weaponizing of outer space and space debris created by outer space activities would disproportionately affect all states.
It is the responsibility of all States to ensure that outer space remains a shared heritage of humankind, free from conflict and accessible to all nations for peaceful purposes.
Thank you
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