President not sending separate delegation to UNHRC

President Maithripala Sirisena will not be sending a separate delegation to represent him at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Mahinda Samarasinghe told Parliament today.

By Sandun Jayawardana​

Speaking during the Committee Stage Debate of the Budget, Mr Samarasinghe clarified that President Sirisena has agreed that the Government’s delegation to Geneva will be led by Foreign Minister Thilak Marapana.

However, UPFA MP Dr. Sarath Amunugama, who is currently sitting in the Opposition, will be part of the official delegation. He will go as President Sirisena’s special representative, Mr Samarasinghe added. The five member delegation also includes Northern Province Governor Dr Suren Raghavan, the MP further stated.

He added that the President had mooted sending his own delegation as the Government had initially decided not to send an official Government delegation and to task the country’s mission in Geneva with conveying the Government’s stance at the sessions.

Mr Samarasinghe, who was initially due to be part of the delegation, said he withdrew his name, adding that he told President Sirisena that it was important to send one single delegation to represent the country.

While there will be no change in the Government’s stance on co-sponsoring the resolution submitted by the ‘core group’ led by Britain, Mr Samarasinghe said the speech Foreign Minister Marapana will deliver at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva on March 21 will be a joint text that conveys a “unified stand.” Accordingly, Dr Amunugama will also have input on the draft as the President’s special representative, Mr Samarasinghe added.

The draft of the Foreign Minister’s speech will be shown to both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for approval, he further said. “You can’t do this by sidelining the President,” Mr Samarasinghe stressed.