Foreign Secretary informs HRC President on withdrawal from 30/1

Colombo (News 1st) - The Ministry of Foreign Relations in a media release notes that Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha briefed the President of the HRC Ambassador Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger on Sri Lanka's decision to withdraw its co-sponsorship of Resolution 40/1 and Resolution 30/1. The Foreign Secretary who is presently in Geneva, on Friday (21 February) informed Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger that the Cabinet of Ministers had on Wednesday approved this decision following a cabinet paper submitted by Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. The decision had also been presented to the Parliament on Thursday. Aryasinha also informed her that Minister Gunawardena would lead the Sri Lanka delegation to the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council, and will formally inform the Council Members on the Government’s decision when he addresses the High Level Segment of the Council, on Wednesday 26 February. Minister Gunawardena who will also respond to the Oral Update on Sri Lanka by the High Commissioner on 27 February, is scheduled to meet the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, during his stay in Geneva. She was also informed by the Foreign Secretary that on the eve of the decision being taken by the Cabinet, the Ambassadors of the ‘core group’ that had moved the resolution, who were resident in Colombo ( the UK, Germany and Canada), had also been briefed by Minister Gunawardena.