Archives - Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN Geneva Switzerland

: Published: 29 July 2014; Last Updated: 30 July 2014

The Holy See Press Office issued a communiqué Tuesday confirming the dates of the Apostolic Trip of the Holy Father in Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

Accepting the invitation from the civil authorities and the Episcopate, His Holiness Francis will make an Apostolic Trip to Sri Lanka from 12 to 15 January and in the Philippines from 15 to 19 January 2015. The program for the trip will be published shortly.

Press Communiqué

: Published: 23 July 2014; Last Updated: 02 April 2015

Sri Lanka has successfully undertaken the development of risk profiles for major natural hazards, and landslide and drought hazard assessments have already been completed. Hazard profiles of Coastal Hazards, Cyclones and Floods will be completed by the end of the year. The Ministry of Disaster Management has taken a number of other initiatives to mainstream disaster risk reduction into development sectors such as housing, road development, health, education etc.

Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha made this observation at the Discussion on the "Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction" during the First Preparatory Committee for the Third United Nations World conference on Disaster Risk Reduction which took place in Geneva on 15 July 2014.

: Published: 25 June 2014; Last Updated: 27 June 2014

Sri Lank told the Human Rights Council today (25 June 2014) that persons with disabilities in conflict-affected areas receive benefits from Government schemes including housing and livelihood support. The Government promotes the participation of disabled persons in vocational training with assistance from international partners. For example, the ORHAN Vocational Training Centre in Vavuniya in the North has a current enrolment of 70 per cent disabled students. These steps are also being taken in keeping with the implementation of the recommendations of the LLRC.

This observation was made at the Panel Discussion on “Technical cooperation and capacity-building in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities through legal and institutional frameworks, including public-private partnerships”.

: Published: 23 June 2014; Last Updated: 23 June 2014

Sri Lanka has strongly rejected the inference that the presence of the military contributes to the insecurity of women and girls in the former conflict-affected areas.

Exercising a 'Right of Reply' with regard to the statement made during the General Debate under Agenda Item 4 by Canada, claiming ‘ongoing use of rape and sexual violence by Sri Lankan security forces against perceived government opponents,’ Sri Lanka said this claim is not substantiated by verifiable data or evidence. It was noted that any allegations supported by credible evidence are dealt with firmly by the authorities and legal action has been taken by the Government in all cases in which the Sri Lankan security personnel have been involved.

: Published: 20 June 2014; Last Updated: 20 June 2014

Sri Lanka today informed the Human Rights Council that prompt action had been taken by the government to bring back normalcy to Aluthgama and Beruwala, the areas affected by recent incidents of the communal violence.

This observation was made by Ms. Manisha Gunasekera, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva exercising a 'Right of Reply' in response to comments made by Germany, Norway and Canada during the General Debate under Agenda Item 4.

: Published: 16 June 2014; Last Updated: 18 June 2014

Intervening in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on International Solidarity and Working Group on Discrimination against Women and the Special Rapporteur on Right to Education at the 26th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 16th June 2014, Sri Lanka said, inculcating in students a commitment to preserving and enriching multicultural and multilingual diversity is a first step in promoting better understanding among a country's different communities. Since the end of the conflict, the Government has launched a 10-year National Plan for a Trilingual Sri Lanka in January 2012 for the implementation of the Trilingual Policy. The vision of this plan is to provide Sri Lankans the education, infrastructure and resources to acquire skills in Sinhala, Tamil and English languages to bring about integration and foster a society with mutual understanding and a sense of assimilation and belonging.

: Published: 13 June 2014; Last Updated: 18 June 2014

Intervening in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on International Solidarity and Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in persons, especially women and children at the 26th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 12th June 2014, Sri Lanka said “the Government of Sri Lanka acknowledges the gravity of human trafficking and has adopted a zero tolerance policy against any form of human trafficking. . In this context, the Government has been continuously emphasizing the importance of eradicating of all forms of human trafficking”.

Page 68 of 103

Dates confirmed for Pope Francis' trip to Sri Lanka, Philippines

Sri Lanka completes development of risk profiles for major natural hazards, and landslide and drought hazard assessments

Sri Lanka promotes participation of disable persons in vocational training in line with LLRC Recommendations

Sri Lanka rejects inference that the presence of the military contributes to the insecurity of women and girls in the former conflict-affected areas

Sri Lanka briefs Human Rights Council on action taken by Government following incidents of communal violence

Sri Lanka says preserving and enriching multicultural and multilingual diversity is a first step in promoting better understanding among different communities

Sri Lanka committed to eradicating of all forms of human trafficking