The Government of Sri Lanka rejected the statement made by the
Secretary-General of the United Nations that the Sri Lanka authorities
had failed to prevent the disruption of the normal functioning of the
United Nations Offices in Colombo. The Ministry of External Affairs,
in a statement today (July 9) categorically emphasized that throughout the protest in front of the UN Office, the Government of Sri Lanka has looked after the safety of the United Nations premises. "The
demonstrations taking place outside have not resulted in harm to
anyone. Access has continued to be afforded to the premises, through
the facilitation of the movement of persons wishing to enter or exit,"
the Ministry said.

The Ministry also pointed out that as the measures necessary for the
security and access to the compound were being deployed, the
Government of Sri Lanka through the proper channels gave the United
Nations in New York very explicit and emphatic assurances.

Following is the full text of the Statement:

The attention of the Ministry of External Affairs has been drawn to
the Statement made in New York on 8th July and attributable to the
Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The
Statement claims that the Sri Lanka authorities have failed to prevent
the disruption of the normal functioning of the United Nations Offices
in Colombo.

The Ministry of External Affairs wishes to categorically emphasize
that throughout the situation, the Government of Sri Lanka has looked
after the safety of the United Nations premises. The demonstrations
taking place outside have not resulted in harm to anyone. Access has
continued to be afforded to the premises, through the facilitation of
the movement of persons wishing to enter or exit.

Even as the measures necessary for the security and access to the
compound were being deployed, the Government of Sri Lanka through the proper channels gave the United Nations in New York very explicit and emphatic assurances. Moreover, the United Nations Resident
Coordinator in Colombo was kept apprised of the efforts of the
Government to ease the situation, while acting within the parameters
of a democratic system wherein the right to peaceful demonstration
remains a fundamental entitlement.

Given the above context, the Ministry of External Affairs believes the
decision to close the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo which at present serves to address a range of issues relevant to 34 nations of the Asia-Pacific region, to be disappointing. At the same time, the
Government of Sri Lanka is committed to dialogue as the way forward,
as the avenue for the resolution of issues of this kind. The Ministry
of External Affairs wishes therefore to reaffirm its intent to
continue to be engaged with the United Nations system.

Ministry of External Affairs
Colombo

09th July 2010