Latest Geneva resolution: Putting Sri Lanka’s commitment to the test

FOREIGN Minister Vijitha Herath made a statement in Parliament on Thursday, providing an explanation of Sri Lanka's position at the 60th session of the Human Rights Council.

- By A.L.A. Azeez

On 8 September 2025, he delivered the country statement during the consideration of the comprehensive report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. Almost a month later, on 6 October 2025 when resolution 60/1 on Sri Lanka was adopted by the Council without a vote, Sri Lanka's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva addressed the Council reiterating the Government's position and indicating Sri Lanka's rejection of the resolution.

Interestingly, the Minister' statement in Parliament, the latest in the series, ascribes to resolution 46/1 (2021) the intensification of internationalisation of domestic' concerns through the adoption of Sri Project (SLAP). It goes on to criticise the previous Governments being responsible for internationalisation and for the resolutions adopted in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and then in 2021 and 2022 after failing to defeat them, only having wasted public funds.

The statement seems to grudgingly acknowledge some positive developments made since 2015, including the establishment of the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations during that period.

Regrets have, however, been expressed regarding the inconsistent approaches adopted by different Governments from 2009 to 2022, with regard to resolutions promoted/adopted. Such approaches varied from initiation of own resolution (2009), canvassing against and outright rejection of resolutions (2012, 2013, 2014), endorsement of resolutions (co-sponsorship, 2015, 2017, 2019), rejection of resolutions with a strong emphasis on certain paragraphs (2021, 2022), to consensual adoption of a 'smart' resolution (rollover, 2024).

An attempt at historical revisionism