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FM: UNHRC on political campaign against SL
… points out duplicity of some members
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday (23) said double standards adopted by some countries would undermine the global fight against terrorism. Minister Gunawardena said so delivering the country statement at the 46th session of the Geneva based UNHRC. He spoke using video technology.
Minister Gunawardena said there was an unprecedented propaganda campaign against Sri Lanka on the basis of the report of Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The Minister said that he would leave it to the members and observers of this Council to make their own judgment on whether Sri Lanka represented a situation that warranted the urgent attention of this Council, or if this campaign was essentially a political move that contravenes the very values and principles on which this Council has been established. Particularly at a time when legislation is enacted by some countries to protect their soldiers from prosecution in military operations carried out overseas, only points to duplicity and the hypocritical nature of their motives. This cannot but result in a significant loss of morale among countries engaged in the struggle against terrorism.
The following is the full text of the statement: “Sri Lankan heroic armed forces militarily neutralized the LTTE in 2009 after three-decades of conflict. The Sri Lanka Government acted in self-defense to safeguard the unitary state, sovereignty and territorial integrity from the world’s most ruthless separatist terrorist organization.
The LTTE is the only terrorist organization in the world which has killed two world leaders: a serving President of Sri Lanka and a former Prime Minister of India extending its terror beyond the borders of Sri Lanka.
End of terrorism guaranteed the most cherished of all human rights – right to life of all Sri Lankans – Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslims.
Nonetheless hegemonic forces colluded against Sri Lanka in bringing an unsubstantiated resolution against Sri Lanka which was defeated by the support of friendly nations who remain by Sri Lanka’s side even today. Further resolutions were presented to this Council on purely political motives. In each instance Sri Lanka presented the procedural improprieties, and how such processes could set a dangerous precedent affecting all member states of the United Nations.
The Government which assumed office in Sri Lanka in 2015, in a manner unprecedented in human rights fora, joined as co-sponsors of Resolution 30/1 which was against our own country. It carried a host of commitments that were not deliverable and were not in conformity with the Constitution of Sri Lanka. This led to the compromising of national security to a point of reviving terrorist acts on Easter Sunday 2019 causing the deaths of hundreds. The rejection of this resolution by the peoples of Sri Lanka was clearly manifested in the mandate received by His Excellency President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in November 2019. Based on this mandate I announced at the 43rd session of this Council that Sri Lanka would withdraw from co-sponsorship of the resolution. I also stated that Sri Lanka would remain engaged with the UN system including this Council.
We have provided detailed updates to the OHCHR in December 2020 as well as in January 2021 on the progress of implementation of commitments that Sri Lanka had undertaken such as continuity of the existing mechanisms, appointment of a special commission of inquiry headed by a Supreme Court Judge, achieving the SDGs, progress made in returning lands, demining and creating new avenues of livelihoods.
These steps have been taken even as Sri Lanka was battling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for the past one year. In spite of these challenges we held a free and fair general election in August 2020 and elected a new Government with a two-thirds majority in one of Asia’s oldest Parliamentary democracies.
It is regrettable that despite the spirit of cooperation with the HRC and its mechanisms, elements working against Sri Lanka intend to table another country-specific resolution based on this OHCHR Report. This rejected report by Sri Lanka has unjustifiably broadened its scope and mandate further, incorporating many issues of governance and matters that are essentially domestic in any self-respecting, sovereign country.
I leave it to the members and observers of this Council to make their own judgment on whether Sri Lanka represents a situation that warrants the urgent attention of this Council, or if this campaign is essentially a political move that contravenes the very values and principles on which this Council has been established. Particularly at a time when legislation is enacted by some countries to protect their soldiers from prosecution in military operations carried out overseas, only points to duplicity and the hypocritical nature of their motives. This cannot but result in a significant loss of morale among countries engaged in the struggle against terrorism.
The Council must hold the scales even. Not going by hearsay, unilateral action or one angled doubtful sources but adhere to its guiding principles. Insistence on such ever-expanding externally driven prescriptions notwithstanding our continuous cooperation and engagement with this Council can pose numerous challenges.
As the Council is aware this is a critical time to the entire world in the last hundred years where we need to be united in our efforts to overcome the Covid19 pandemic and to revive battered economies. I appeal to the members of this Council to take note of our continued engagement and cooperation on its merit and support us by rejecting any resolution against Sri Lanka. We believe that the extent to which the resources and time of this Council has been utilized on Sri Lanka is unwarranted, and carries a discouraging message to the sovereign states of the global South.
The need of the hour, in the face of an unprecedented pandemic, is solidarity rather than rancor and acrimony arising from divisions within this council. In view of the circumstances set out above, we urge that this resolution be rejected by the Council and be brought to closure.”
News
UNICEF representative’s meet PM
UNICEF Representative Mr. Christian Skoog,, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at her office on Friday (01).
The discussion focused on improving child protection and education in Sri Lanka, securing child rights, and creating safe learning environments.
The meeting was attended by Ms. Teona Aslanishvili, Chief of Child Protection, and the Chief of Education from UNICEF.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
News
Fifteen heads of Sri Lanka missions overseas urgently recalled
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urgently recalled 15 ambassadors and high commissioners appointed based on political affiliations to Sri Lanka. According to sources within the ministry, Secretary Aruni Wijewardena has issued this directive.
Among those recalled are Mohan Peiris, a former ambassador who served as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York; Rohitha Bogollagama, a former foreign minister appointed as the High Commissioner to the UK; Kshenuka Senewiratne, a former ambassador appointed as the High Commissioner to India; Chitrangani Wagishwara, appointed as the High Commissioner to Australia; and Rodney Perera, appointed as the ambassador to Japan.
Also recalled are Sumangala Dias, a former Air Force Chief appointed as the High Commissioner to Malaysia; Sudarshan Pathirana, a former Air Force Chief appointed as the ambassador to Nepal; Nishanth Ulugethenna, a former Navy Chief appointed as the ambassador to Cuba; Ravindra Wijegunarathna, a former Navy Chief appointed as the High Commissioner to Pakistan; Uday Indrarathna, appointed as the ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and V. Kanakanadan, appointed as the High Commissioner to Kenya.
A brother-in-law of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Shimal Wickramasinghe, appointed as the High Commissioner to Seychelles; and former Navu chief Admiral Jayanath Colambage, the Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia, along with Ranga Gunawardena, the Lankan High Commissioner to the Maldives, and Mohammad Shahid, appointed as the ambassador to Iran have also been recalled.
News
Five-star hotels stop serving pork products
By Rathindra Kuruwita and Norman Palihawadane
Five-star hotels across the country have stopped serving pork and pork products in light of the ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, hotel sources said on Friday. This decision aligns with a recent government ban on the slaughter, sale, and distribution of pork, following a gazette notification declaring all Divisional Secretary divisions in the country as “infected” or “suspected” areas for ASF and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS).
Hemantha Samarakoon, Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority, warned that there are plans by chicken sellers to increase prices, potentially taking advantage of the pork shortage during the festive season. Chicken prices are already on the rise in local markets.
Leading supermarkets have also ceased selling pork products, adhering to the government directive. Some supermarkets indicated they might still offer products that were produced and stored prior to the October 29 announcement. However, many have fully removed pork from their shelves in response to public health concerns.
The ASF crisis escalated after symptoms similar to PRRS were observed in local pig populations. Dr. KK Sarath, Director of the Western Province Animal Production and Health Department, reported that thousands of pigs have died in recent weeks, with testing confirming the presence of ASF—an illness with nearly a 100% mortality rate.
The disease has now been identified on four farms in the Western Province, with concerns of its spread to Uva, North Central, and North-Western provinces. The local pig farming industry is facing a severe crisis, having lost approximately 5,000 pigs by late October, out of an estimated 70,000 in the Western Province.
The government has prohibited various activities to contain the outbreak, including transporting pigs or pork products, artificial breeding, and improper disposal of infected carcasses. Violators may face legal consequences, including arrest,said Upul Rohana, head of the Public Health Inspectors’ Union.
Dr. Sarath emphasized the urgency of isolating infected animals and warned that in some countries, culling infected pigs is a necessary measure — one that could devastate farmers’ livelihoods without compensation. The once-thriving pork export market is now effectively closed until the situation is brought under control.
Moreover, the potential for wild boars to become infected poses additional risks, as this could lead to viral mutations. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain how ASF entered Sri Lanka, with scrutiny on past incidents of illegal meat imports.
“This outbreak not only jeopardizes public health but also threatens the livelihoods of thousands reliant on pig farming. Urgent action is needed to halt the spread and safeguard both the economy and the agricultural industry,” Dr. Sarath said.
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