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Thursday, 12 November 2009 19:13 |
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Security Council Debate on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict – 11th November 2009 Statement by Ambassador Palitha Kohona Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka |
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Tuesday, 03 November 2009 17:06 |
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STATEMENT BY H.E.DR. PALITHA T.B.KOHONA ,AMBASSADOR,PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SRI LANKA TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT 64TH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COMMITTEE(SECOND COMMITTEE) UNDER AGENDA ITEM 53:SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Mr. Chairperson, We note with appreciation, the reports of the Secretary-General under Agenda Item 53. My delegation also associates itself with the Statement made by the distinguished representative of Sudan as the Chair of the G-77 & China. Mr. Chairperson, The Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC concluded that Climate Change poses an unequivocal challenge for human development and even existence. Climate Change will impact on all, in particular, developing countries. We are concerned that the current global development model needs a paradigm shift to face the unprecedented challenge of Climate Change. Finding a new development model, based on green consciousness, that can accommodate diverse cultural dimensions and developmental, needs may be the way to sustain the future of humankind. Though the initial and burdensome anthropogenic increase of the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere could be directly attributed to the development approach of industrialized countries, small developing countries will be most particularly vulnerable as the problem intensifies. We believe that our approach to addressing this issue must be based on recognition of the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities, as well as the historic responsibility of developed countries for having given rise to this problem. After all it was the development model adopted by industrialized countries that caused this massive accumulation of GHGs in the atmosphere occupying the carbon space of developing countries, which never had the opportunity or capacity to use up their own carbon space. We believe that developed countries must offset their resulting carbon debt by footing the major part of the cost of adaptation by developing countries. Adaptation, both by developed and developing countries is essential. Additionally, current patterns of fossil fuel consumption of developed countries result in a vast ecological debt that is being inherited by developing countries and all future generations. Considering this responsibility, industrialized developed countries should boldly cut their emission levels, based on per-capita emissions criteria. Some of the proposals discussed by the G-8 countries offer a workable starting point. We welcome the comments made by Japan earlier today. |
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Wednesday, 28 October 2009 14:18 |
Statement by Ambassador Palitha Kohona Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka Third Committee Agenda Item 69: Promotion and Protection of Human Rights 28th October, 2009
Mr. Chairman, My delegation notes with appreciation the reports of the Secretary-General under this Agenda Item. We also wish to thank the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteurs for addressing this Committee and the interactive dialogue based on their respective mandates. We particularly appreciate the wide-ranging review presented by the High Commissioner.
Mr. Chairman, There is no doubt that there has been much progress in the development of the normative framework on human rights as evidenced by the adoption and entry into force of a range of important international human rights instruments. Within their domestic jurisdictions, member states have also adopted laws, policies and programmes to protect and promote human rights. However, the challenge lies in addressing the gap between human rights standards and implementation and in genuinely mainstreaming a culture of human rights protection and promotion in everyday life. Our aim should be to work in co-operation at the international level to bridge these gaps and advance global standards without anyone trying to take the moral high ground and impose individual views on how to apply these concepts and internationally agreed standards. It is not to be forgotten that until recently, there was little agreement on international human rights standards, leave alone on their proper implementation. There also needs to be uniformity in efforts to have these standards implemented. Selective and non-uniform efforts to implement these standards, will only contribute to a diminution of credibility.
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Thursday, 15 October 2009 08:41 |
Ambassador Palitha Kohona Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka at the Security Council Debate on the Situation in the Middle East including the Palestinian Question 14th October 2009
Mr. President, I thank you for giving us the opportunity to once again focus on the situation in the Middle East, particularly, the Palestinian question, a question that has occupied the attention of this Council for a long time. Sri Lanka has consistently supported a peaceful settlement to the Palestinian issue and called for the implementation of UN General Assembly Resolutions regarding the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to statehood and the realization of the two State solution. Our sincere wish is that Israel, Palestine and their other neighbours could coexist in peace and harmony. As a country that suffered much at the hands of unbridled violence unleashed by terrorism, Sri Lanka knows only too well the human and material cost of such violence that can impede political solutions. We have consistently endorsed the two State solution to the problem – a peaceful Middle East is our wish for the people of the region.
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Friday, 30 October 2009 18:19 |
Statement by H.E Ambassador Palitha T.B Kohona Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN Agenda Item No 81: Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 61st session Sixth Committee 64th Session of the General Assembly 30th October, 2009
Mr Chairman,
At the outset, allow me to take this opportunity to express our appreciation and support for the very important work carried out by the International Law Commission. Through the systematization and precise formulation of rules, the Commission plays an invaluable role in the codification and progressive development of international law.
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Tuesday, 27 October 2009 11:46 |
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Statement by Palitha T.B.Kohona Ambassador , Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN On the Agenda Item 33:Comprehensive Review of the Whole Question of Peacekeeping Operations in All their Aspects.
Fourth Committee Sixty-Fourth Session of the General Assembly 27th October 2009 New York
Mr. Chairman, Allow me at the outset, to congratulate you on your election to this important Committee.
We also take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Under-Secretary General for the UN Department of Peacekeeping, Mr. Alain Le Roy, and, the Under Secretary- General for the Department of Field Support, Ms. Susana Malcorra, for their comprehensive Statements to this Committee.
My delegation associates itself with the statement made by Morocco on behalf of NAM.
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Wednesday, 21 October 2009 14:46 |
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 Emerging markets such as Sri Lanka has pressed ahead with extensive plans and tax holidays to attract foreign investors Dr. Palitha Kohona , Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations said at a meeting with the Vice President of the AT & T Mr. Eric H. Loeb, a global leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies and data solutions, held at Rockefeller Center , New York. The main purpose of the meeting being to explore the possibility of setting up businesses in Sri Lanka |
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Tuesday, 13 October 2009 15:49 |
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Hon.Mahinda Samarasinghe , Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights met with UN- Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon on Monday 12th October 2009 in New York |
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