Minister Vijitha Herath to Travel to New York for UN General Assembly
09-Sep-2026.
Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath said he would travel to New York on September 26 to participate in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and would deliver Sri Lanka’s address at the session on September 28.
Minister Herath also said he could not agree with the main objective of the report of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
He made these remarks on September 8 at a media briefing held at the Government Information Department in Colombo to announce Cabinet decisions.
He said that the UN Human Rights Council report had welcomed several actions taken by the Sri Lankan Government during the past two years.
“I have participated in the Geneva Human Rights Council sessions on two previous occasions as Foreign Minister. We have also made our position known as a Government,” he said.
A written report has been submitted this time, and Sri Lanka has been allocated five minutes to respond. Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, Sumith Dissanayake, will present the Government’s position.
As this is a general session, there is no requirement for the Foreign Minister to personally participate, he said.
“However, I will leave the country on September 26 to participate in the United Nations General Assembly session in New York. I will address the General Assembly on September 28 representing Sri Lanka. The President participated in this session last year,” he said.
He further stated that Sri Lanka could not accept the main objective of the resolution presented by the UN Human Rights Council concerning the country.
“We clearly stated this during the previous session and are stating it again. Accordingly, we have expressed our opposition,” he said.
He added that the Government would implement a domestic mechanism and that this was one of the reasons for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
“Through this process, land releases are also taking place. Activities concerning missing persons have also been expedited. Therefore, justice is being delivered through a national mechanism,” he said.
