Sri Lanka's Report under the Universal Periodic Review comes up for consideration by the OHCHR Working Group on UPR on Wednesday 15 November 2017, in Geneva.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in 2006, as a process through which the human rights record of every UN Member State is peer-reviewed.
This review, conducted through the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), is based upon each country’s human rights obligations and commitments in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights instruments to which the country is party, and other sources. During the process, the country under review submits a written report on its human rights record, and appears before the Council, where it receives recommendations regarding its human rights record from other UN Member States. The country under review is able to ‘accept’ or ‘note’ these recommendations. Those accepted form the basis for future reporting.
Secretary General of the United National Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Dr. Mikhisa Kituyi has assured the Minister of Science, Technology and Research Susil Premajayantha that the UNCTAD stands ready to assist with Sri Lanka’s Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review (STIP) and to explore modalities of technical assistance and a strategy for mobilizing the funding required.
This assurance was given by the UNCTAD SG, following consultations Minister Premajayantha had in Geneva last week with Senior Officials of the UNCTAD.
During his meetings, the Minister noted that consistent with the SDGs set by the UN, Sri Lanka was working with the relevant Ministries, Institutions, private sector and civil societies in order to achieve targets set by 2030. He emphasized the need to explore avenues to strengthen relations between UNCTAD and the Government of Sri Lanka to promote Science, Technology and Innovation for SDG achievement in Sri Lanka and to assess a policy review on Science, Technology and Innovation in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has pledged US $ 50,000 towards the fund to assist the Rohingaya refugees and the host community in Bangladesh.
This pledge was announced by the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN Ravinatha Aryasinha, at the Pledging Conference for the Rohingaya Refugee Crisis held today (23.10.2017) at Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Sri Lanka commended the Government of Bangladesh for hosting the Rohingaya refugees including the recent influx, under challenging conditions. It was noted that the humanitarian exigencies of the Rohingaya refugees have to be the shared responsibility of the international community due to its sheer magnitude.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
23 October 2017
The Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD), being mindful of the challenges that labour migrants face, is working together through programmes and initiatives to improve their conditions, in a manner beneficial to both the sending and receiving countries.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara made these remarks representing Sri Lanka as the Chair of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD), while moderating session “Inputs and Recommendations on the GCM by Region Breakout Groups” on 10 October 2017 at the seventh Global Meeting of Chairs and Secretariats of Regional Consultative Processes on Migration in Geneva.
The Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ambassador William Lacy Swing expressed his appreciation for Sri Lanka's active role in the preparations for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration as well as the role in the Migration Health discussions during the meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara and the Director General of IOM on 10 October 2017 at the IOM Headquarters in Geneva. During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and the IOM. In particular, the Deputy Minister spoke of the training and capacity building requirements of Sri Lanka.
68th session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), held during the period 2-6 October 2017 in Geneva at the United Nations. Ms. Rosemary McCarney, Canadian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations chaired the meeting with the presence of High Commissioner of UNHCR, Mr. Filippo Grandi.
Ambassador Ravintha Aryasinha, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations made an intervention under the general debateof 68th ExCom.
Full statement
9 October 2017
Sri Lanka Permanent Mission
Geneva
Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha addressed the 57th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of Member States of WIPO on 03 October 2017 in Geneva.
Director General of the National Intellectual Property Office of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Geethanjali Ranawaka and Counsellor Ms. Shashika Somaratne also participated in this session.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
03 October 2017
- UN ready to provide fullest support to SL to build as an exemplary nation in the world where prosperity and reconciliation achieved -UNSG
- Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process is proceeded step by step – President to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Chairperson Abu Dhabi Dialogue -Minister Thalatha Athukorala visits Abu Dhabi