Statement by Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management
& Human Rights at the High-Level Segment of the 7th Session
of the UN Human Rights Council- Geneva, 3 March 2008
More>>
Security Council Working Group on Children
and Armed Conflict
More>>
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.
International Human Rights Day celebrated in Sri Lanka
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights commemorated ‘International Human Rights Day’ on December 10, 2007 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Held under the patronage of Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, it was attended by a host of local and foreign guests. Chief Justice Sarath N Silva was the chief guest at this national event. It also included a presentation by a group involved in human rights work in Sri Lanka.
Pic caption: Depicted is a special moment at the national event
Human Rights ministry expresses confidence in processes agreed on to verify disbursement of funds and other conduct by INGOs
In response to the article in The Island newspaper of November 12, 2007, under the heading “Probe INGOs,” and to effect that funds disbursed by International NGOs in Sri Lanka have found their way to the LTTE, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights wishes to reiterate the government’s position that such allegations would be inquired into fairly and impartially with the participation of all stakeholders. The process of ensuring accountability should be carried out without statements being made to the media prior to an investigation being conducted, which may result in prejudgment and bias. This is a consolidated position of the government and has been agreed on at various policy-making fora, especially the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA) chaired by the Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, which took a decision on this matter on January 19, 2007 at its fourth meeting.
More>>
MINISTRY OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS
VACANCIES IN THE CONFIDENCE BUILDING & STABILIZATION MEASURES PROJECT
More>>
Minister Samarasinghe visits European Commission in Brussels
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>>
Press Release
Inaugural meeting of ‘Committee to Inquire into Abduction and recruitment of Children for Use in Armed Conflict’
Following the commitment made to the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict earlier this year, and a decision taken by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights (IMCHR), Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, in consultation with the Secretary to the President, appointed a high level ‘Committee to Inquire into Abduction and recruitment of Children for Use in Armed Conflict’ in August 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.
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 Septembe.
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.
Mahinda Samarasinghe, Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights and Peter Dias Amarasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry, Basil Rajapakse, President’s Senior Advisor.
The picture shows the government agent K Ganesh explaining to the questions raised by a participant.
News Archives
