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Address by Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe Minister
of Disaster Management and Human Rights of Sri Lanka at the Universal
Periodic Review of Sri Lanka, Working Group of the UN Human Rights
Council on Universal Periodic Review 13 May 2008 Geneva Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights participated at the High Level Segment of the 7th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, 2-8 March 2008, Geneva. Hon. Minister met several representatives from various Countries.
Statement By Mahinda Samarasinghe, MP, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights on the Implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution The next few days will prove a watershed in the arduous and protracted search for a viable and workable solution to our country's national question. More>> Walter Kalin tours Sri Lanka Walter Kalin, Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) visited Sri Lanka on an official five-day visit. The picture depicts Kallin meeting with Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights.
Kalin planned to visit Puttalam, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara to look into the situation with regards to IDPs in those areas. Benito Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner of the European Commission who is in charge of External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, with Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights of Sri Lanka at the European Commission in Brussels on October 22, 2007. Commonwealth delegation on maiden tour of Sri Lanka A delegation comprising representatives from the Commonwealth made a maiden four-day visit to Sri Lanka recently. With the aim of developing bipartisan ties, Betty Williams headed the delegation, which also met with Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights.  Pictured are Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights with Lord Dholakiya, Simon Burns and Greg Hands, members of the Commonwealth delegation. Statement by Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights of Sri Lanka Agenda item 68: Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Children Third Committee 62nd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations New York 17 October 2007  More>> Special Representative of HRC meets Minister Samarasinghe Manfred Novak, Special Representative of the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations, who is currently touring Sri Lanka, met with Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights. 
East Rising A special summit entitled ‘East Rising,’ with the aim of discussing the development of the Eastern Province with the participation of government organisations and NGOs was held at the BMICH. Held under the patronage of Basil Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights along with Ministers’ Susantha Punchinilame, Abdul Majeed, P Dayaratne and Mohan Wijeywickrama,Vice Admiral for the North and East participated at the summit.  Visit of Ms Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Sri Lanka Ms Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, was in Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Government and was facilitated to enable her interaction with a wide spectrum of Sri Lankans. In addition to government officials, independent state institutions and international bodies, she met several government and opposition political parties and representatives of Civil Society. She was also facilitated in respect of her meetings with the Bishop of Jaffna and individuals and members of Civil Society in Jaffna. At her request, several such meetings in Colombo as well as Jaffna were without the presence of Government or security officials, enabling her to interact freely. Press Release Sri Lanka not on UN Human Rights Council agenda Not reference to a draft resolution Contrary to certain news items and commentaries appearing in some Sri Lanka newspapers, Sri Lanka is not on the agenda of the on-going Sixth Session of the UN Human Rights Council. After the deadline for the submission of draft resolutions expired at 12 noon on Monday 24 September. More>> Several high level meetings were held in parallel to the session of the International Human Rights Commission in Geneva. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights represented Sri Lanka at these important meetings. The picture shows Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe with C R De Silva, Attorney General and Dayan Jayatillake, Ambassador/Permanent Representative in Geneva meets Dr Walter Kaelin the special representative of the UN Secretary General on the Human Rights of IDPs and Mandfred Nowak, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. 
Commissioner of Essential Services General tours northern region S B Divaratne, Commissioner of Essential Services General toured the Northern region and had a discussion at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights detailing the situation to the representatives of the United Nations in Sri Lanka and the diplomatic corps. New Procedure on Registration of Households 7th anniversary of the UNHCR commemorated  The 7th anniversary of the UNHCR was commemorated, with the attendance of a host of distinguished guests at the BMICH recently. Pictured are local and international invitees along with the chief guest at the event, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights. Minister Samarasinghe briefs media on the deaths of 17 aid workers  A media conference was held recently at the Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat with Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights leading a discussion with regards to the implications of 17 aid workers who were killed in Muttur and what steps the Government was taking to ensure the safety of those working in conflict areas of Sri Lanka. Both the local and international community condemned the deaths. Pictured is Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe with Deputy Solicitor Generals Aminda Fernando and Yasantha Kodagoda of the Attorney General Department and Prof. Rajeev Wijeysinha, Secretary of the Peace Secretariat who participated at the briefing. Sri Lankan Ministers at news conference in Geneva  Ministers Mahinda Samarasinghe, Keheliya Rambukwella, Douglas Devananda and Athauda Seneviratne along with Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary for the President at a news conference held in Geneva. Deputy Chairman of IRC meets with President  President Mahinda Rajapaksa meeting with Jacques Forster, the Deputy Chairman of the International Red Cross (IRC) and Lt. Gen. Markku Niskala. Ministers’ Mahinda Samarasinghe, Keheliya Rambukwella and Douglas Devananda are also pictured. President holds meeting with High Commissioner of UNHCR  Antonio Guterres, High Commissioner of the UNHCR' meeting with Mahinda Rajapaksa. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights is also pictured. Secretary General of ILC meets with President  President Mahinda Rajapaksa's meeting with Nicholas Howen, Secretary General, International Law Commission. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights also participated. President Rajapaksa holds discussion with Eric Solheim  President Mahinda Rajapaksa in discussion with Eric Solheim, Norway’s former peace facilitator to Sri Lanka. Ministers’ Douglas Devananda, Keheliya Rambukwella, Mahinda Samarasinghe along with Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary for the President also attended. Mahinda Samarasinghe speaks out on World Refugee Day Address made by Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights at an event held on World Refugee Day on June 28, 2007, at the BMICH Banquet Hall. More>> Presidential Commission of Inquiry Commences Investigations The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate and inquire into serious violations of Human Rights was appointed in November 2006. The Presidential Warrant requires the commission to inquire into serious human rights violations including 15 incidents specified in the schedule of the warrant. The President also by communication dated January 31, 2007 invited the commission to consider inquiring into the assassination of TNA MP Nadaraja Raviraj. More>> |
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