Govt . won’t send ‘Special Delegation’ for UNHRC 29th Session

* UN Human Rights Chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein expected soon

by Zacki Jabbar-May 27, 2015, 12:00 pm 

Deviating from practices adopted by the Rajapaksa administration, the government said yesterday that it would not be sending a ‘Special Delegation’ for the 29th United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Sessions, to be held in Geneva next month.

The newly appointed spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry and Acting Director General of the UN Division, Mahishini Colonne told a news conference in Colombo, that there was no need to dispatch a "Special Delegation" incurring enormous expenses , since Sri Lanka had a permanent mission in Geneva and its officials would be called upon to do the job expected of them.

"We do not intend following the wasteful practices that had been adopted by the previous government," she emphasised.

Pointing out that Sri Lanka was not a member of the UNHRC, Colonne said that the same procedure would be followed in respect of meetings of the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance, with Sri Lankan officials stationed in Geneva representing the country.

She observed that journalists who wished to cover UN Sessions were free to do so at their own expense and the Foreign Ministry would readily facilitate their visits.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein was expected to visit Sri Lanka soon but no date had been finalized,the Spokesperson noted adding that the invitation had been sent by the previous government.

Responding to questions she said that the UNHRC would be submitting its report on investigations into alleged war crimes that had been leveled against the previous government and the LTTE to its 30th sessions scheduled to commence in September.