The Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister for Plantation Industries and Special Envoy for Human Rights of Sri Lanka Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, is in Geneva to participate in the 17th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, from May 30 - June 17.

Minister Samarasinghe is scheduled to address the opening session on Monday evening following the presentations of the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General.

The Minister is expected to appraise the HRC on the progress of Sri Lanka's own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and the National Action Plan on the promotion and protection of the human rights.
The Minister will also evaluate the Council on the various steps taken by the government to uplift the living conditions of the people in North and East

The Minister will stress on the government’s commitment to preserve the rights of all ethnicities and its equal treatment of all communities while disclaiming the recent allegations of human rights violations.
Minister Samarasinghe will brief the member states on the positive developments taking place in the country after the elimination of terrorism.

The Sri Lankan delegation to the Geneva session also includes Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva and Attorney General Mohan Peiris and Head of Sri Lanka mission in the United Nations in Geneva, Ms. Kshenuka Seneviratne.
The UNHRC comprises 47 member states.