“In contrast to the considerable challenges in the humanitarian crises that continue to engulf many parts of the world today, Sri Lanka’s achievements particularly following the ending of the terrorist conflict, provides confidence and hope that even the most severe and insurmountable humanitarian crisis can be overcome, with political commitment.”
Ravinatha Aryasinha – Ambassador Geneva
Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha made this observation during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in the Human Rights Council on Thursday, 12 June. The Special Rapporteur presented his report to the 26th session of the Council, currently underway in Geneva, pursuant to his mission to Sri Lanka in December 2013 at the invitation of the Government. He undertook several field visits during his mission, where he was provided with unfettered access, to engage with a variety of actors, including civil society.
Regretting “the tendency among sections of the international community to undervalue and downplay the tremendous humanitarian achievement of the Government of Sri Lanka”, the Ambassador said that this shows disrespect not only to the Government and its domestic and international partners, but most of all to those who have at last emerged from the suffering caused by 30 years of terrorist conflict. He reminded the Council that the humane approach of the Government was not a mere post-conflict development, but had been the hallmark of the Government’s approach to its citizens in the former conflict-affected areas during the entirety of the conflict, prompting Dr. Beyani’s predecessors Dr Francis Deng and Prof. Walter Kalin to commend Sri Lanka for this exceptional exercise. He said Sri Lanka’s policy had been described by the former Executive Director of UNICEF late Dr. James Grant, as being “uniquely humanitarian in a conflict situation”.
Acknowledging the Special Rapporteur’s contribution to address the issue of resettlement of IDPs in the context of Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process, the Ambassador assured that Sri Lanka remains committed to share its experience and best practices with respect to IDPs with the international community.
The Ambassador elaborated on the many significant achievements made by Sri Lanka in addressing issues of IDPs within the framework of the LLRC National Action Plan as well as in cooperation with the UNHCR and UNOCHA, especially the Joint Needs Assessment conducted by the latter in consultation with the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Security and Development of the Northern Province (PTF) to address residual displacement needs, including those of displaced persons, with a view to provision of durable solutions to IDPs.
Referring to some of the comments and recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur in his report, inter alia, with regard to alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law, call for the involvement of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, allegations of impunity of security forces, Ambassador Aryasinha said the Government of Sri Lanka regretted that the Special Rapporteur had exceeded his mandate as stipulated in Council Resolution 5/2. He said that through such politicized comments and recommendations, the Special Rapporteur had regrettably compromised on the impartiality and objectivity principles central to the Code of Conduct of special procedures mandate holders.
Associated with Ambassador Aryasinha were Mr. S.B. Divaratne, Presidential Advisor and previously Secretary of the PTF, Ms. Manisha Gunasekera, Deputy Permanent Representative and Ms. Priyanga Wickramasinghe, Minister Counsellor of the Sri Lanka Permanent Mission in Geneva.
*Statement issues by the Sri Lanka Mission – Geneva.
Read the full statement here
Amarasiri / June 13, 2014
Dear Ravinatha Aryasinha – Ambassador Geneva
“In contrast to the considerable challenges in the humanitarian crises that continue to engulf many parts of the world today, Sri Lanka’s achievements particularly following the ending of the terrorist conflict, provides confidence and hope that even the most severe and insurmountable humanitarian crisis can be overcome, with political commitment.”
This is generally true, but not true with Para-Sinhala and Para-Tamils in Lanka, the Land of Native Veddah.
1. Since independence even before that,things have gotten worse not better.
Cause and Curse is para-Monk Mahanama’s lies and imagination sin the Mahawamsa hypocrisy of it is that most para-sinhala believe that. Even a well known Prof. Sarathchandra made a big play called Sinhabahu, on a lion myth, based on this Myth.
Until the para discard their myths and imaginations, there will be very little progress.
Alternately para can be sent to South India and Nagaland.
So, you wan’t the world to believe you?
The para-war was over 5 years ago..
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Native Vedda / June 13, 2014
“the Ambassador said that this shows disrespect not only to the Government and its domestic and international partners,”
More disrespect is in order.
“but most of all to those who have at last emerged from the suffering caused by 30 years of terrorist conflict.”
For those people whom this Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha sheds crocodile tears were never allowed to know the difference between respect and disrespect under both VP & MR despotic regimes.
Please note this Ambassador is double Sinhala/Buddhist by the virtue of his name, Arya Sinha.
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Javi / June 14, 2014
“Please note this Ambassador is double Sinhala/Buddhist by the virtue of his name, Arya Sinha.”
Knowing the man genes one can safely bet he thinks he can rape west like the way his government does it to the people.
“Ambassador assured that Sri Lanka remains committed to share its experience and best practices with respect to IDPs with the international community.”
Bihari babuva Sinha No thank you the rest of the world can do without scumbags displaying animal instincts than human care.
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Park / June 13, 2014
Ravinatha should wake up on coming Sunday morning, take his right hand place it on his left chest and HONESTLY tell that THE Special Rapporteur’s report to Human Rights Council on Thursday, 12 was wrong. Then we will believe in the statement presented by his mission. There is a limit one can be a liar or even blind!
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Davidson Panabokke / June 13, 2014
”committed to share its experience and best practices with respect to IDPs”…..
As he is the best liar out of all the Ambassadors, he is posted to Geneva.
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Indra / June 13, 2014
Lying is natural to you Aryasinha. Just looking at the image of your face made me puke. Thu-nodekin.
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jansee / June 13, 2014
How on earth this joker can continue to self appease himself on the “tremendous humanitarian achievement” when brutal sexual violence continues with impunity. He can continue to have his ostrich head deeply stuck into the sand but there will be many kicks on his backside to wake him up to reality. Aryasinha is the best comedian the regime has sent to the UNHRC and all he has done is to take the regime into a deeper pit, or shit rather.
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Davidson Panabokke / June 13, 2014
Your Excellency
Instead of many lies over so many years let us speak the one truth once and for all and settle this 67-yr conflict.
i. @LLRCAction #SriLanka has implemented 30% of #LLRC recommendations, @PresRajapaksa tells UN Sec-Gen Ban Ki-moon. @UN_Spokesperson #LKA
ii.Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister says 85 percent of the LLRC recommendations implemented, 8 Feb 2014, http://www.colombopage.com/archive_14A/Feb08_1391846051CH.php
iii.99 percent of the LLRC recommendations implemented; says Minister Samarasingha, 8 March 2013, http://www.hirunews.lk/54775/99-percent-llrc-recommendations-implemented-says-minister-samarasingha
iv.Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge “said that fifty percent of the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission have been implemented”, 17 November 2013, http://cl.ly/VfcD
v.”These activities are in contradiction with the LLRC recommendations, which called for the military to reduce its presence and stop carrying out economic activities. Unbelievably, while the military continues with such activities regardless, the respective LLRC recommendation is marked as ‘completed’ on the government’s website. In the current draft resolution the Human Rights Council ‘calls upon the Government to facilitate the effective implementation of durable solutions for IDPs, including the long-term displaced.’ With Sri Lanka’s track record with regards to implementation, as described above, a strong vote will be needed to push the Government of Sri Lanka to take its own commitments to its citizens seriously, including the LLRC recommendations’’ – Can the UN Human Rights Council get Sri Lanka to take its commitments to its citizens seriously? Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 25 March 2014, http://www.internal-displacement.org/blog/2014/can-the-un-human-rights-council-get-sri-lanka-to-take-its-commitments-to-its-citizens-seriously
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Dr, Rajasingham Narendran / June 13, 2014
Mr. President,
If countries like Russia, China and Nigeria are ready to learn from Sri Lanka on how to conduct and win a humanitarian war against a ruthless terrorist Organization , why should the government fear the UNHCR inquiry. If the US sent its representatives to the conferences organized by the defence establishment on how tofight terrorism, what has the government to fear of the UNHCR inquiry? If the government has paid the required and more than required attention to the human needs of the war-affected people in the post-war years and won over their hearts and minds, what has the government to fear of the UNHCR inquiry? If foreign dignitaries visiting post-war north and east are impressed with the developments there , why should the government fear the UNHCR inquiry? If the LTTE which has been universally condemned for its terrorism, had committed more war crimes that the government forces and the government forces had to reluctantly respond in kind, but in a disproportionally smaller manner, why should the government fear the UNHCR inquiry. If the government has acted swiftly post-war to remove the underlying factors that led to the brutal and ugly war it had to fight reluctantly while upholding humanitarian values in one hand, why should it fear the UNHCR inquiry? If Sri Lanka lives by Buddhist principles as claimed by ‘Pious’ you the day before yesterday, has as a result fought the war according to Buddhist principles ( despite the inherent contradiction) and is governed according to elevated principles enunciated by the Buddha, why should you or your government fear the UNHCR inquiry? I do not think Sri Lanka fears the truth.
Your government obviously fears the UNHCR inquiry because it would reveal its dastardliness, which was no less than that of the LTTE, if not more! Is this not the obvious inference?
Mr. President, however much you may twist, turn and wriggle and your minions lie on your behalf , you have to face the music and as a consequence this country will have her ear drums shattered. The day of reckoning is near and cannot be avoided, because of your continuing manoeuvres like passing the bucket load of excreta for YOUR minions in the rubber stamp parliament to carry. They had carried the bucket with the same contents with the Chief Justice impeachment you orchestrated. The same parliament is carrying another, but similar bucket of the same contents with regard to the PSC you have appointed to resolve the persisting Tamil problem. Despite your war victory and never ending post- war triumphalism, the nature of the war, is now under microscopic scrutiny, because of your short sighted bravado and despite the shrill irrational noise of your paid minions.
I am thankful that the LTTE committed Hara-Kiri with your able assistance, but I like to know through an objective inquiry what really happened at the war front, because of the few gruesome incidents of wanton disregard for human life that have come to light. I have heard much from the war-displaced and war-weary soon after the war, about their experiences, torment , tormentors and good Samaritans. Their narratives were a severe indictment of the LTTE. Their evidence may vindicate you and your armed forces. The probability is of course that more incidents regarding the dead and the murdered, raped and missing will emerge. But he larger picture and the acts of a similar or worse nature by the LTTE will also emerge and help place matters in their true perspective. This is a calculated risk you have to take and cannot avoid. Is it not better to swim with the tide and not drown? Is it likely that you know more than we do and are desperately trying to avoid it being public knowledge, however futile your efforts are bound to be?
More than the world, Sri Lankans have to know the raw truth and deal with it. Whatever you do will not avoid this reality now. This truth may be the one that will pave the way to solve what you have remade an intractable problem post-war.
Bolivia may award you a medal, but Sri Lankan history will not be kind to you, if you continue on your present path of utter stupidity and false bravado. These are not based on any principle of Buddhism’. I feel sorry for a ambassador a Ravinatha Ariyasinghe, who to also carry the bucket of excreta for you and pretend that it does smell!
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / June 13, 2014
The last sentence should read:
‘I feel sorry for ambassador Ravinatha Ariyasinghe, who has to also carry the bucket of excreta for you and pretend that it does not smell to the high heavens!’
Dr.RN
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Silva / June 13, 2014
” Ambassador Aryasinha said the Government of Sri Lanka regretted that the Special Rapporteur had exceeded his mandate as stipulated in Council Resolution 5/2. He said that through such politicized comments and recommendations, the Special Rapporteur had regrettably compromised on the impartiality and objectivity principles central to the Code of Conduct of special procedures mandate holders.”
Haka…haka…hah..hah..!
This Special Rapporteur by now must have buried himself deep under 6+ feet feeling so embarrassed, ashamed and guilty!
What pathetic nonsense uttered by a pathetic parasite clinging on to the rogue regime of Rajapakshas! What kind of a political commitment is this mutt head talking about? MARA’s political commitment to perpetuation of lawlessness, familial rule, corruption, rape, stealing, waylaying, robbery, waste, corruption?
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K.A Sumanasekera / June 13, 2014
Thousands if not hundreds of thousands of civilians perished in Iraq, Libya and Afganistan during the last ten years.
No Special Rapporteurs ,Reports or Pillais lining up to .to find find out how these civilians got done.
May be they just dropped dead.
Or they were all baddies , so who cares…
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len / June 14, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera this is about Sri Lanka country under the leader ship of Venerated Buddhist humanitarian, Principled, supremely honest world has will ever see. By the way in Afghanistan ,Iraqi still people are getting perished daily.
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Silva / June 14, 2014
KAS Joker,
“Thousands if not hundreds of thousands of civilians perished in Iraq, Libya and Afganistan during the last ten years.
No Special Rapporteurs ,Reports or Pillais lining up to .to find find out how these civilians got done.”
That is what we too are saying. Even such blatant crimes were buried under the carpet and the world just ignored it. But here in this tiny island your sugar daddies uneducated, uncultured bastards haven’t been able to hide the war crimes they have committed. The UN or any witness was not there when they committed those crimes. But still the UN has heaps of crime scene evidence to be used against this country. Who leaked those evidence and video tapes? It is those very soldiers who fought the war that did it. Why did they did it? That is because they knew the rogue family stole the credit of victory, used it for their own familial rule, did not recognize the services of the field fighters and above all turned the country into an autocracy without solving the ethic problem but aggravating and internationalizing it. You stupid monkey’s mongol theories do not apply here. Yes, the the Americans got rid of the Iraqi despot too but they did not bungle the process as MARA fool did. This is the difference between idiocy and wisdom. You fools only have muck in your brains but they have gray matter. Throughout these forums you mutt has been a perennial loser being unable to prove any point you write and others steamrolling your lunacies and antics. For god sake go to hell now leaving the governance to us because you never can do it but destroy and smear it.
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Anpu / June 13, 2014
“Sri Lanka Says Humanitarian Crises Can Be Overcome With Political Commitment”
WHAT POLITICAL COMMITMENT?????????????
Many years ago – The 13th Amendment was adopted by the Parliament with an overwhelming majority above the constitutionally mandated majority after debate, and is very much part of our Constitution. The President is obliged under his oath of office to perform his functions in accordance with the Constitution.
****Successive Sri Lankan Govts did not implement 13th Ammendment******
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Leelagemalli / June 13, 2014
Define the political commitment you have been talking about, then people would realize the govt at all has such. LLRC to be made a snail walk – instead of go for crime investigation but go for promotion of crimes providing them with a safer heaven, MR regime has done nothing sofar in the line. But stupid rhetorics limited only to their circles are set to air to balance the opposition and average folks arbitorily keeping them away from the facts and figures of today´s realities.
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R.Dias / June 13, 2014
Hik…hik…hik…..
If not for the pressure of the UN …the Govt would not have done what they have done so far.
That shows the level of Political Commitment of the President….
Mr Ariyasinhe the Sri Lankans truly understand your position and they pity for you..
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