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Human Rights Minister's closing statement
at UPR
The Permanent Mission
of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva
19th May 2008
Ms. Shirani Goonetilleke, Director,
Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process
Statement delivered by Ms. Shirani Goonetilleke, Director, Secretariat
for Coordinating the Peace Process on behalf of the Minister of Disaster
Management and Human Rights Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe at the adoption
of the report of Sri Lanka on Monday 19th May 2008 following its Universal
Periodic Review
Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates,
I am making this statement on behalf of the Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe
Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights who led the delegation
to the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka.
The Government of Sri Lanka welcomes the opportunity to be reviewed
under this new mechanism of the Universal Periodic Review as one of
the founding members of the Human Rights Council. In keeping with the
spirit of UN General Assembly Resolution 60/125, Sri Lanka is committed
to the objective of this mechanism in identifying ways in which the
international community can work in partnership to ensure the enjoyment
of all rights by all persons, in a practical way.
My delegation takes this opportunity on behalf of the Government of
Sri Lanka to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to all delegations
for their kind support and valuable contributions made during the course
of the interactive dialogue.
Our thanks also go to the OHCHR Secretariat, for the preparation of
this report.
Mr. President,
We had a rich and productive interactive dialogue under the Universal
Periodic Review of Sri Lanka with the participation of a large number
of UN member States. We have benefited by the many constructive suggestions
and recommendations. We have, therefore, done our utmost to accept as
many recommendations as possible, over half, which indicate the esteem
in which we hold the Council and our willingness to cooperate with it.
We have also announced a number of voluntary commitments, reflected
in paras 87 to 112 of the report, to further the promotion and protection
of human rights.
Mr. President,
The UPR is a new and evolving process. There is a clear need to further
improving and fine tuning and rendering more transparent its methodology
and procedures. The experience we have gained from the process must
be shared, and shortcomings, if any, should be duly addressed within
the forum of the Council in order to enhance the effectiveness of the
UPR process.
Finally, Mr. President, let me assure you of Sri Lanka's commitment
to the success of the UPR process as a whole and the development of
the Human Rights Council into the truly global forum on human rights
that it was formed to be.
Thank you.
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