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.
Addressing the plenary of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies today (9th) in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in Geneva, has said “there is renewed political commitment and will in my country, to strengthen the national IHL compliance mechanism as well as on advancing measures to prevent and respond to all forms of violence including Sexual and Gender Based Violence (GBV), in a holistic manner”. He further noted that “this is reflective in the clear policy of the current administration to engage positively with the international community, including international organizations”.
- Ambassador Aryasinha Addresses the 66th Session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- Sri Lanka pledged a voluntary contribution of 10,000 US$ towards the UNHCR Global Appeal 2015
- Sri Lanka asks refugee receiving countries to expedite processes of finalizing resettlement claims