Sarath Weerasekara Launches Petition Against Geneva Resolution

31-Aug-2025

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The 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is scheduled to commence in Geneva on September 8. 

At this session, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, is set to release his new report on Sri Lanka. 

In this context, it has been announced that signatures will be collected from the public for a petition opposing the report.

The initiative is being organized by former Minister Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara. 

The High Commissioner’s report is expected to include an assessment of Sri Lanka’s human rights situation, legal processes, and the level of government cooperation. Sarath Weerasekara stated that this exercise is an attempt to portray the Sri Lankan military before the international community as being responsible for war crimes.

Accordingly, a public signature campaign opposing the report has been launched. This campaign commenced last Friday at the N.M. Perera Centre in Colombo 8, with the participation of Buddhist monks, former military personnel, and others.

It has further been announced that from September 1, signatures will also be collected from the public in major cities including Colombo–Fort, Kandy, Kurunegala, Kalutara, Chilaw, Gampaha, Hambantota, and Ratnapura. The petition will then be handed over to the UN office in Colombo.

At the upcoming UN session, Sri Lanka will be represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, who will address the assembly. 

He is expected to outline the country’s current political, democratic, and human rights positions to the international community. Meanwhile, it is noteworthy that the United Kingdom and Canada are preparing to jointly submit a new resolution on Sri Lanka.