Honorable President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Sri Lanka reaffirms its strong commitment to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, recognizing their vital role in supporting our development, addressing climate change under the Paris Agreement, and conserving biodiversity. These Conventions are well integrated into our national policies and action plans, ensuring environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals and waste.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) successfully conducted a two day Seminar on Disarmament for Sri Lanka Foreign Service Officers on 25 and 26 April, 2025 at the Ministry. Over 40 officers based in Colombo attended the workshop physically while over 60 officers attached to Sri Lanka Missions abroad followed the Seminar virtually.
Media Release
UK FCDO Press Release entitled “UK Sanctions for Human Rights Violations and Abuses during the Sri Lankan Civil War”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism takes note of the Press Release dated 24th March 2025, issued by the UK, Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) entitled “UK Sanctions for Human Rights Violations and Abuses during the Sri Lankan Civil War”. As stated in the press release, the UK government has imposed sanctions on four individuals, three of whom are former military commanders of the Sri Lankan armed forces.
It is also noted that the UK FCDO Press Release refers to “a commitment made during the election campaign to ensure those responsible are not allowed impunity”.
In this regard, the Ministry wishes to underline that this is a unilateral action taken by the UK government which involves an asset freeze and travel ban on the individuals concerned. Such unilateral actions by countries do not assist but serve to complicate the national reconciliation process underway in Sri Lanka.
The government is in the process of strengthening domestic mechanisms on accountability and reconciliation and any past human rights violations should be dealt with through domestic accountability mechanisms.
The position of the Government of Sri Lanka was conveyed by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath to the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
Colombo
26 March 2025
58th Session of the Human Rights Council:
Statement by PR/Geneva
(as the country concerned following the Oral Update on Sri Lanka
by the High Commissioner for Human Rights)
03 March 2025
On 26 February 2025, Hon. Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, visited the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Hon. Minister met Ms. Charlotte Warakaulle, Director of International Relations and Prof. Emmanuel Tsesmelis, Head of Non-Member State Relations during the visit and explored future opportunities for Sri Lankan students, academics and scientists to contribute to experiments and research work with CERN while reinvigorating Sri Lanka’s collaboration with CERN.
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Mr. President, I wish to congratulate you on your election as the President of this Council.
Mr. President,
- Statement by Hon. MFA at the High Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament, 25 February 2025
- Sri Lanka presents progress made in advancing rights of women and girls to the CEDAW Committee
- Opening statement of the Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Head of Delegation to the CEDAW Review of Sri Lanka´s 9th Periodic Report 13 February 2025, Palais des Nations, Geneva