GENEVA/COLOMBO (5 February 2016) – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein will begin a four-day official visit to Sri Lanka on Saturday, at the invitation of the Government.
During his visit, the High Commissioner will discuss a range of current challenges and opportunities for strengthening the rule of law and protection of human rights in Sri Lanka, including reviewing the implementation of the recommendations made in his report to the Human Rights Council, and in its subsequent Resolution 30/1 on “promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.” The resolution, which was co-sponsored by Sri Lanka, was unanimously adopted by the Human Rights Council on 1 October 2015.
The High Commissioner will meet President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other Ministers, as well as other high-level Government officials at both federal and regional levels. He will also hold discussions with a wide range of other interlocutors, including the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, representatives of civil society, victims of human rights violations, and religious leaders. In addition to the capital Colombo, the High Commissioner will also visit Jaffna, Trincomalee and Kandy.
At the end of his visit, on Tuesday 9 February, the High Commissioner will hold a press conference at 14:30 local time at the United Nations Office in Colombo, 202-204 Bauddhaloka Mawata.
Media inquiries: please contact the UN Communications Team in Colombo on +94 11 258 0691 (Ext 1500-3) | +94 77 444 8401 | [email protected].
– Press release issued by OHCHR/ 05th Fre 2016