Report to the Cabinet of Ministers by External Affairs Minister:

Post conflict development in Sri Lanka

Visit of the President and External Affairs Minister for the 66th session of the UN General Assembly: September 19-25, 2011, New York

The President and the delegation attended the general debate of the 66th session of the UNGA, from September 19 to 25 in New York. This General Assembly was the first session for the UN Secretary-General, since his re-election to the high post for a second term. The Assembly was presided over by the Permanent Representative in New York of the State of Qatar.

The General Debate of the Session commenced on the morning of September 21 having the overarching theme of ‘The role of mediation in the settlement of disputes by peaceful means.’ The President addressed the General Assembly on the morning of September 23, 2011.

Bilateral discussions

It provided an opportunity to apprise the world community of the development that had taken place within a short span of two-and half years, since the end of the conflict, in resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation activities. Also, the efforts by the government to ensure livelihood support for the people, reinvigoration of the democratic process through the holding of elections in the North and East and the local reconciliation mechanism as well as the political measures to redress issues of concern to all citizens. The key messages conveyed therein were relevant to all member states and were well received; especially those being threatened by terrorism. Further, there was a call on the developing world to collectively insist on the procedures of multilateral organizations being consistent and devoid of discrimination.

The President also took this opportunity to reiterate the need to have decisive action on the issue of Palestine. He also expressed solidarity of Sri Lanka towards the Cuban people and underlined the need for sustained support for countries of the African Continent.

The presence of many world leaders provided the benefit of holding bilateral discussions on the fringes of the main event. These discussions had added relevance, having learnt that moves were afoot by Canada to have a procedural decision/resolution on Sri Lanka at the current 18th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, to formalize an agenda item on holding an interactive dialogue on Sri Lanka, especially on the LLRC report, at the 19th Session of the HRC Session scheduled for March 2012. Our focus was to brief on this unprecedented and procedurally flawed move, HRC member countries and those non-members with influence.

Both the President and I met with the following member countries of the Human Rights Council; President of Nigeria, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Vice President of Uganda, President of Kyrgyz Republic (Bureau member of the HRC) and the President of Senegal. I continued this effort by having bilateral meetings with my counterparts of Indonesia, Uruguay (President of the HRC), Cameroon and Angola.

UN Security Council

I also addressed individual letters while in New York to the 46 Foreign Ministers who are members of the HRC, explaining our position regarding this proposed initiative. Many of the friends acknowledged the danger in allowing action on a domestic process which is yet to see the light of the day, as it sets negative and unsound precedent in the conduct of business within the UN system. The response we received was encouraging as they agreed that such selective and subjective action could affect not only Sri Lanka but any country in the future.

The meetings with the President of Palestine and the President of Iran were an opportunity to reiterate the personal rapport between the leaders and the President as well as to exchange views of bilateral importance. The meeting with the President of Colombia was important in furthering our bilateral relations as well as to apprise on the current post conflict development in Sri Lanka being a current member of the UN Security Council and as a conduit to the Group of Latin American countries. The President also met the President of Slovania, at their request. All these interactions also helped to pursue furthering stronger bilateral political and economic relations.

To be continued