Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne addressing the 70th World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting in Geneva on Tuesday (23 May 2017) said that the “Sri Lanka has achieved much progress in health care delivery due to cost-efficient use of resources and the coordinated use of its well ingrained primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities”.
Highlighting the positive dividends migrant health agenda could contribute to both the individual migrants and to their host countries, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha emphasised that the Migrant Health be an essential element of the 2018 final Global Compact on Migration (GCM) document. Ambassador Aryasinha made these remarks during Sri Lanka’s intervention on 8th May 2017, at the first informal thematic discussion on development of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, held from 8 -9 May 2017 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, which focused on human rights of migrants, including their social inclusion and cohesion and all forms of discrimination, including racism, xenophobia and intolerance. During the session, Sri Lanka also officially tabled the ‘Colombo Statement on Migrant Health’ adopted at the 2nd Global Consultation on Migrant Health, held in Sri Lanka from 21-23 February 2017, as an input to the GCM process.
Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Susil Premajaytha has announced that a Steering Committee will be established in Sri Lanka to develop physics education at the high school and university levels and to strengthen cooperation with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The Committee would comprise of a core group drawn from universities and relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research, COSTI, NSF, etc.
A team comprising 7 Sri Lankan inventors led by Dr. Mahesh Edirisinghe, Commissioner of Sri Lanka Inventors Commission (SLIC) participated in the 45th edition of the International Exhibition of Inventions held at Palexpo, Geneva from 29th March to 02nd April 2017. All Sri Lankan inventors who showcased their inventions at this 45th edition were able to secure medals including three Gold Medals (with special recognition from Jury for two inventions and a special recognition from World Women Inventors Association for one invention), two Silver Medals and two Bronze Medals.
Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha has emphasized the need to fully utilize the holistic normative framework that the Right to Development provides in the realization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. While affirming Sri Lanka's continued support to the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development, he also highlighted the need for early finalization of the draft criteria and sub-criteria enabling the operationalization and realization of the Right to Development at the international level.
Ambassador Aryasinha made these observations when he delivered Sri Lanka’s statement at the 18th Session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development today (03 April 2017) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
03 April 2017
The Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ambassador William Lacy Swing has commended Sri Lanka on its dynamism and perseverance as the Chair of the Colombo Process (CP) which has led to numerous achievements, and steered the CP to a progressive path and to a very good future. Noting that due to its regular engagement, CP is among the strongest Global Regional Consultative Processes, Ambassador Swing commended Nepal for taking up the leadership of the process, adding that the IOM stood ready to continue supporting the Chair of the CP.
Ambassador Swing made these observations on the occasion of the transfer of the Chair of the CP, from the Government of Sri Lanka to the Government Nepal, during a meeting held at the IOM Headquarters in Geneva last week ( 29th March 2017).
The Government of Sri Lanka extends its appreciation to all the countries that extended support to Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council yesterday, 23 March 2017, for the adoption of Resolution A/HRC/34/1 titled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’, by consensus.
We deeply appreciate the understanding shown by all, and support for Sri Lanka’s processes for promoting reconciliation, justice, and human rights, towards enduring peace and prosperity for all Sri Lankans.
- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Harsha De Silva, MP, addresses the 34th Session of the HRC during the adoption of the draft resolution 'Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka'
- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Harsha De Silva, MP, addresses the 34th Session of the HRC
- The ‘Colombo Statement’, first ever political commitment agreed by countries to advance the migrant health agenda