Sri Lanka will undergo its first review under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities during the Committee’s 35th session in Geneva today (14).

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the review will take the form of an interactive dialogue between the Government of Sri Lanka’s delegation and the CRPD Committee, with members participating both in person in Geneva and virtually from Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s delegation will be led by Upali Pannilage, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment. Senior officials from the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and the Attorney‑General’s Department will join the discussions, alongside representatives of Sri Lanka’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva. Officials from other relevant ministries and institutions will participate virtually from Colombo.

Sri Lanka ratified the CRPD in 2016 and submitted its initial report in October 2019. In December 2025, the government responded to a list of issues raised by the Committee, providing further information on implementation. The upcoming review offers an opportunity to take stock of progress and engage in constructive dialogue on measures to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.

The Committee’s 35th session runs from 12 to 27 August 2026 in Geneva, with Sri Lanka’s review scheduled alongside those of Slovakia, Qatar, Lithuania, and Chile. (Newswire)

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