Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe addressing the concluding session of Sri Lanka's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group in Geneva on Monday (5 November 2012), appreciated the interest shown by the 98 countries that made interventions during the Review on 1 November 2012. Referring to the outcome document adopted which summarized the comments made by the participating countries (attached below), Minister Samarasinghe said most speakers had commended the progress made by Sri Lanka in the short time since the end of the separatist conflict, while others who registered concerns, had also acknowledged the positive developments in the country.
As part of the regular UPR process, recommendations were made by most countries, of which Sri Lanka accepted 111. Minister Samarasinghe noted that with respect to a number of recommendations that did not enjoy Sri Lanka's support, its position was conveyed in a responsible, forthright and respectful manner.
Minister Samarasinghe thanked the Member and Observer States of the Human Rights Council for their active contribution to the Sri Lanka UPR, the President of the Council and the Council Secretariat for their respective roles in facilitating the Review, as well as the Troika of Rapporteurs coordinated by Spain and which included Benin and India.
The Sri Lanka Delegation to the UPR comprised :
Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of H.E. the President on Human Rights ( Leader of the delegation ), Hon. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Monitoring MP, Ministry of External Affairs, H.E. Mr. Ravinatha Aryasinha, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, Ms. Kamalini de Silva, Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Mohan Pieris, PC, Senior Legal Advisor to the Cabinet, Major General R.M.D. Ratnayake, RWP RSP USP psc, Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army, Mr. S.K. Gamlath, PC, Additional Solicitor General, Attorney General’s Department, Ms. Manisha Gunasekera, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, Mr. Majintha Jayesinghe, Chief of Protocol, Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. B.P. Aluwihare, Deputy Solicitor General, Attorney General’s Department, Mr. A.N.R. Pulle, Senior State Counsel, Attorney General’s Department, Ms. Sashikala Premawardena, Director/UN, MA & HR, Ministry of External Affairs, Ms. Priyanga Wickramasinghe, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka, Mr. Nishan Muthukrishna, Coordinator (Human Rights), Ministry of Plantation Industries, Mr. Zuraish Hashim, Private Secretary to Hon. MMP, Ministry of External Affairs.
5 November 2012
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