Sri Lanka at Geneva: human rights & accountability take center stage

COLOMBO (News 1st); The 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is scheduled to be held from 12th of September and the 7th of October.During this period, the situation with regard to human rights in Sri Lanka and ways to promote accountability are due to be discussed.The Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry PC and the Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa PC have left for Geneva to represent Sri Lanka at the session.Meanwhile, representing the Opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya's head of human rights MP Dr.

Kavinda Jayawardena, MP Mujibur Rahuman and Attorney-at-law Eranda Weliange have also left for Geneva.SJB MP Jayawardena stated that he hopes to discuss the lack of reconciliation for people for nearly three years after the Easter Sunday attacks, and furthermore, hopes to discuss the difficult economic situation in the country, in addition to the necessity of support from the international community."We hope that the leaders at the UNHRC would provide us with the necessary political leadership to provide justice and equality to the people of our country to recover from this economic crisis and to establish democracy, rule of law, equality and human rights in the country," he said.Meanwhile, Attorney-at-law Nuwan Bopage also left for Geneva on Saturday (10) to participate in the UNHRC sessions.Minister Ali Sabry met with the Core Group on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC and held further discussions on constructive engagement and working together to achieve effective and sustainable progress.Moreover, he had met with Nadia Nashif, the acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and discussed the progress Sri Lanka has made and the current steps being taken to improve human rights practices in Sri Lanka..