-SRI LANKA SOVEREIGNTY FORUM-

As a fellow member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Sri Lanka expresses deep concern at Malawi’s alignment with the Core Group on Sri Lanka — comprising the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Germany, North Macedonia, and Montenegro — in advancing hostile resolutions against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC.

Sri Lanka is a NAM nation that ended a 30-year terrorist conflict by defeating the LTTE, a group proscribed in 32 countries, while rescuing 300,000 civilians held hostage by terrorists. 

For 30 years of LTTE atrocities, not a single resolution was passed at the UNHRC. 

Yet, after ending terrorism, 11 resolutions have been brought against Sri Lanka, none supported by verifiable evidence of the claims made — such as the allegation of 40,000 dead,” which remains unproven after 16 years without even a list of names.

By aligning with a handful of Core Group states, Malawi risks endorsing a dangerous precedent:

·      The UNHRC, a subsidiary of the General Assembly (GA), is being weaponized to act beyond its mandate, contrary to the UN General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 that strictly defined its advisory role.

o   UNHRC not an independent or judicial body

o   UNHRC mandate limited to promotion, dialogue, cooperation, capacity-building, making recommendations – not punitive or quasi-judicial role

o   UNHRC’s all human rights issues to remain under authority of UNGA & UNSC

·      A small bloc of Core Group nations is misusing the UNHRC to set geopolitical precedents, targeting Global South countries and bypassing both the General Assembly and the Security Council.

·      If this precedent against Sri Lanka — a NAM state that defeated terrorism — is allowed, it will inevitably boomerang on other NAM nations, including Malawi, whenever they resist external pressure.

We therefore respectfully ask Malawi:

·      How does aligning with the UK and Canada against a fellow NAM state serve the interests of NAM solidarity?

·      How does Malawi justify endorsing a precedent where a few nations dictate to the majority of the Global South?

·      Will Malawi stand by the founding principles of NAM — defending sovereignty, non-interference, and solidarity against colonial pressures — or allow this dangerous precedent to weaken all NAM members?

We appeal to the people of Malawi: like Sri Lanka, your nation won its independence by resisting colonial domination. Do not allow your voice to be used today to strengthen those same former colonial powers against a fellow Non-Aligned nation that defeated terrorism. True solidarity lies in upholding sovereignty, dignity, and the principles on which our nations were built.