Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday left for New York to attend the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
His participation assumes importance at a time when the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), during its session in Geneva, is expected to adopt a resolution shortly on alleged violations of human rights in Sri Lanka during 2002-2011. Besides, on September 30, the UNHRC would debate on a report prepared by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on alleged violations of human rights. The same day, the President would address the UN General Assembly.
Mr. Sirisena’s team includes Mangala Samaraweera, Foreign Minister; D.M. Swaminathan, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Minister and Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training.
Resolution
A senior government official said that according to indications from Geneva, the UNHRC may take up the resolution for discussion and adoption on September 28 and not on Thursday or Friday, as expected earlier.
