Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath emphasized the new government’s commitment and political will to transform Sri Lanka and foster a new political culture that advances the rights and well-being of all citizens.
He made these remarks while addressing the 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva during the Interactive Dialogue on Sri Lanka .
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The Minister highlighted the progress achieved through domestic processes in a short period toward national unity and reconciliation, while urging the Council to provide Sri Lanka with the time and space needed to fully realize these objectives.
During the Interactive Dialogue, 43 countries—including Kuwait on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, the Philippines, Japan, India, China, Indonesia, Türkiye, Russia, the Maldives, and several others—expressed solidarity with Sri Lanka.
These countries:
Welcomed Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner’s visit as a sign of enhanced cooperation;
Acknowledged significant developments and tangible progress, including ongoing legislative reforms, and encouraged support for Sri Lanka’s nationally-led processes;
Questioned the allocation of resources to external mechanisms on Sri Lanka when other Council mandates risk underfunding;
Emphasized that externally imposed parallel processes may increase polarization;
Stated that country-specific mechanisms imposed on targeted states undermine the Council’s principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity;
Expressed concern over double standards, politicization, and the instrumentalization of human rights for interference in domestic affairs;
Underlined the importance of constructive dialogue and cooperation within the Council to achieve productive results in promoting human rights.
Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk appreciated his visit to Sri Lanka in June, noting the opportunity for open exchanges across the political spectrum, with religious leaders, and with communities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism said in a statement.
Sri Lanka’s delegation to the 60th Human Rights Council in Geneva was led by Minister Vijitha Herath and included Ambassador Himalee Arunatilaka, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Director General of the UN and Human Rights Division Dayani Mendis, and other diplomatic officers of the Permanent Mission in Geneva.
