Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L Peiris, representing President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth, at the Commonwealth Day celebrations in London, including the Multi-Faith Observance at Westminster Abbey, held discussions with Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, at Marlborough House in London today (11th March 2014).
Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, has said "the draft resolution on Sri Lanka deposited with the Human Rights Council by a core group comprising - the USA, UK, Maur ...
A copy of the SLT RAINBOW PAGES Western Province Directory – 2014 (The National Business Directory) was presented to the Acting Minister of External Affairs Hon Neomal Perera by the SLT RAINBOW PAGES CEO Malraj Balapiti ...
Joint Statement
1. At the invitation of His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan paid a State Visit to Sri Lanka from 5 March to 7 March 2014 accompanied by a high powered delegation. This is the first State Visit to Sri Lanka undertaken by His Excellency President Hamid Karzai.
2. On Thursday 6 March, the two Leaders engaged in one-on-one discussions, which were followed by talks covering a range of bilateral issues as well as regional and multilateral matters of mutual interest.
3. His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa warmly welcomed His Excellency Hamid Karzai, and the delegation to Sri Lanka.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai held bilateral discussions at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo this morning, and during the talks, President Karzai commended President Rajapaksa for achieving peace in the country.
“No matter how the world community puts it, we know that peace in a country is the best guarantor of human rights,” President Karzai said. “War is the worst enemy of human rights. Peace is the vehicle for human growth and prosperity. We have seen that in Sri Lanka, and we congratulate you.”
Minister of External Affairs and Leader of the Sri Lanka delegation Prof. G.L. Peiris, delivering the National Statement at the High Level Segment of the 25th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva today (5 March 2014), rejected the Report of the High Commissioner in its entirety, saying it was fundamentally flawed and disregarded the substantial progress made by the Government during the five years which have elapsed since the end of the thirty year conflict against terrorism. He said it also pays scant regard to the complexities and local nuances of a sensitive reconciliation process, while eroding the confidence of the people of Sri Lanka by the constant changing of unjustifiable demands. Moreover, they persist in an attitude which is clearly disproportionate to the circumstances and inconsistent with the treatment of comparable situations. It is much to be regretted that the High Commissioner’s Report and those who exalt its virtues only seek to inflict harm on the reconciliation process by bringing about a polarisation of the Sri Lankan society.
Mr. President,
Madam High Commissioner,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. May I at the outset congratulate you Mr. President, as well as Members of the Bureau on your election as office bearers of this Council. I pledge my delegation’s support to you at all times in the discharge of your office. Sri Lanka also reiterates its continued support to the High Commissioner in the discharge of her mandate as contained in GA Resolution 48/141, to the OHCHR, and to the work of this Council.
