Statement by Ambassador Major General Shavendra Silva
Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargé d'Affaires

UN Security Council Open Debate
 “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”
 24 April, 2013

Mr. President,

I join other speakers to commend you for convening this important debate. The Sri Lanka delegation associates itself with the statement made by Iran on behalf of the NAM.

Statement by H.E. Dr. Palitha T.B. Kohona,

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations 

Thematic Debate:"Role of International Criminal Justice in Reconciliation"
10th April 2013,New York

“International criminal justice, as it is widely understood today, is very much centered on a Western historical and cultural mind set. It pays only lip service to the cultural backgrounds of the much of the world. Accountability, particularly retributive justice, appears to be the first choice, in general, to facilitate reconciliation.  There are other paths to this laudable goal. To suggest that there is only way to achieve reconciliation or to advocate a one size fits all approach is to neglect the traditions and experience familiar to the rest of the world.”

Mr. President,

I take this opportunity to thank the President of the UN General Assembly for conveying this timely debate on “The Role of international criminal justice in reconciliation”. We hope that today’s discussion will facilitate a critical examination of the many aspects of the international criminal justice system and its relevance to fostering reconciliation, especially in the multi-dimensional world in which we live. We take the view that the international criminal justice system must undergo further refinement if it is to serve the wider interests of the international community and the goal of reconciliation.

Statement at the Adoption of the Report of the UPR Working Group by Hon. MahindaSamarasinghe M.P.,Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of H.E. the President of Sri Lanka
on Human Rights ,Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation

22nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Geneva
15 March 2013

Mr President,

My delegation and I join you this morning with a deep sense of satisfaction. November 2012 saw Sri Lanka face its second UPR and we were able to lay before the working group, our progress since 2008 and the expectations for future improvements in the promotion and protection of human rights, going forward. We have come a long way since the initial Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka during the first cycle in 2008. My country then was engaged in a conflict against terrorism – commencing in 2006 – trying to rescue a civilian population held by a ruthless group of terrorists. A year after that first review, we finally achieved success in the humanitarian operation and witnessed the dawn of a new era of peace, stability and prosperity for all Sri Lankans. Since May 2009 we engaged in a period of consolidation, removing military involvement in civil administration, reconstruction, demining, rehabilitation, resettlement and launched our initial efforts at national reconciliation and peace-building.

Mr President, the UPR has been an event in which we have been able to periodically pause, take stock, reflect and share with our friends in the Human Rights Council our achievements, challenges and determination to move forward. The interest and level of participation in the UPR of Sri Lanka is also sincerely appreciated. We noted that a clear majorityof the countries that engaged in the UPR last November acknowledged our progress. Some of the countries that did so also pointed out the challenges that we faced. We were able to take up some of the constructive recommendations made and we also made voluntary commitments.

Statement by Ambassador H.E. Palitha T.B. Kohona
 Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations

Fifty-seventh Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
“Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls”
8thMarch, 2013

Thank you Madam Chair,
Let me join other speakers to congratulate you and the Members of the Bureau on your election to the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

The delegation of Sri Lanka associates itself with the statement made by Fiji on behalf of the G77 and China.

While we celebrate the many accomplishmentsof women, we are also constantly reminded of the pervasive reality of gender based violence. Its prevalence is universal.The theme of the fifty-seventh session of the CSW - “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls” –is therefore timely.

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations hosts an interactive panel discussion on “the allure of female suicide bombers”

In honour of the International women’s day, the permanent mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations along with several other organizations including the Engr. Aja Eze foundation hosted an interactive panel discussion on female suicide bombers today. The Panel consisted of renowned professors, authors, analysts, scholars and activists from all over the world.

During his opening remarks, Ambassador Kohona recalled the devastating effect of the LTTE suicide bombers during the country’s 27 year conflict. He further elaborated on the monumental progress achieved by the government of Sri Lanka in rehabilitating over 11,000 former combatants (2240 women) and 560 child soldiers.

Other inventions, more noticeably by Ms. Farhana Qazi (a former CIA official) shed light on the social and religious circumstances that have prompted a surge in female suicide bombers in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Responding to a question, Ambassador Kohona stated that the specific ground realities and cultural aspects of conflict areas have to be taken into consideration.   He added that outsider involvement based on ideological perceptions in dealing with terrorism will only further exacerbate problems such as the growing threat of female suicide bombers.