[Monday, December 03, 2007 - 5.05 GMT] 

Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe on a two day visit from 29th to 30th November 2007 to Geneva briefed Regional, Cross-Regional Groups and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the latest efforts undertaken by the Government of Sri Lanka regarding human rights.
  
During the meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Louise Arbour, Minister Samarasinghe discussed a possible working arrangement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the High Commissioner’s Office.
  
Minister Samarasinghe explained that Sri Lanka was facing a national security challenge from one of the most ruthless terrorist organizations in the world and brought to the attention of the High Commissioner and the Regional Groups the terrorist attacks that took place in Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
  
The Minister emphasized the need for a home grown model which should be practicable and acceptable to the elected Government and the majority of the people of Sri Lanka. He ruled out the imposition or superimposition of any supranational structure to address the human rights situation in Sri Lanka which has been an independent state for almost 60 years and is a functioning democracy that has enjoyed Universal Adult Franchise since 1931.
  
Minister Samarasinghe further briefed them on the openness shown by the Government and the unhindered access provided to the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on Torture Mr. Manfred Nowak to fulfill their mandates freely and independently during their visits in Sri Lanka.
  
Ambassadors from the Asian Group, African Group, Eastern European Group, the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC), and the Western European and Others Group (WEOG), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), participated in the briefings.
 

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Last Updated Date: December 03, 2007 - 5.05 GMT