Sri Lanka has moved to strengthen its commercial ties with Switzerland, as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Sumith Dassanayake, met with Vincent Subilia, Director General of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services (CCIG), recently (12).

According to the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva , during the meeting, Ambassador Dassanayake briefed the Chamber on Sri Lanka’s recent economic developments and emphasized the considerable untapped potential for expanding trade, investment, and wider commercial relations between the two countries. He highlighted the importance of stronger business‑to‑business engagement to translate longstanding friendly relations into tangible economic partnerships.

The Ambassador underscored opportunities to strengthen institutional links between the Geneva Chamber and Sri Lankan business chambers, including a possible Chamber‑to‑Chamber Memorandum of Understanding, exchanges of business delegations, business matchmaking, and closer cooperation with Sri Lankan trade and investment institutions.

He also shared details of Sri Lanka Expo 2027, scheduled for January 2027 in Colombo, and invited the CCIG to encourage Geneva and Swiss companies to participate and explore emerging trade, sourcing, investment, and partnership opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Director General Subilia welcomed the engagement and agreed to share information on Sri Lanka Expo 2027 and emerging business opportunities with CCIG’s membership through its communication channels. Both sides also discussed possibilities for further Chamber‑to‑Chamber cooperation and continued engagement to connect interested businesses in Sri Lanka and Switzerland.

The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva said in a statement that the meeting marked an initial step towards developing a more practical and sustained partnership between the Sri Lankan Mission in Geneva and the CCIG, with a focus on facilitating direct business connections and identifying concrete commercial opportunities.

Ambassador Dassanayake was accompanied by Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the World Trade Organization, R.G.S. Wijesekara, while Arthur Lusenti, Head of International Affairs of the CCIG, also attended the meeting. (Newswire)

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The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Sumith Dassanayake, reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to multilateralism during the 26th Council Meeting of the South Centre.

According to the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva, Ambassador Dassanayake gave this assurance while addressing the Council Meeting held at the UN Headquarters in Geneva on April 23.

In his remarks, he acknowledged the South Centre’s constructive contributions over the past three decades to developing countries, through technical analysis and policy recommendations in areas such as international trade, debt restructuring, taxation, climate change, finance for development, intellectual property, and health.

The 26th Council of Representatives of the South Centre was chaired by former South African President Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (1998–2008). 

Established in 1995, the South Centre is an intergovernmental think tank of the Global South, with a current membership of 55 States. Renowned Sri Lankan economist Dr. Gamani Corea served as Chairperson of the Centre from 2002 to 2003. (Newswire)

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath addressed the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva on Monday (23 Feb), reaffirming Sri Lanka’s firm commitment to global disarmament and multilateral cooperation.

In his statement, the Minister reiterated Sri Lanka’s longstanding support for Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs) and called for tangible progress in establishing such zones, particularly in the Middle East. 

He emphasized that the total elimination and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons remain the only guarantees against their use and underscored the importance of legally binding security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon states.

Highlighting Sri Lanka’s historic contribution to the global disarmament agenda, including its advocacy since the 1960s and its role in championing the First Special Session on Disarmament in 1978, the Minister reaffirmed the country’s continued engagement in nuclear disarmament, humanitarian demining, and the implementation of international conventions related to anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions.

Minister Vijitha Herath further called for renewed multilateralism to strengthen the Conference on Disarmament as the primary negotiating forum for global disarmament and non-proliferation. (Newswire)

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The family of Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, better known by his underworld alias “Harak Kata,” has alleged that he is being unjustly detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to prevent him from exposing bribery claims involving senior police officers and politicians.

In a complaint to the Committee on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva, Wickramaratne’s father, Nelson Mervin Wickramaratne, said his son has been held for more than 30 months under successive detention orders despite no weapons, drugs, or serious criminal charges being filed against him. The only cases raised so far relate to an alleged attempted escape from custody.

According to the letter, Harak Kata has claimed that while in the custody of the Counter Terrorism Investigation Division (CTID), he was pressured over large-scale bribes and has knowledge of payments sought by high-ranking police officials and politicians. He fears that speaking out could lead to retaliation, including further restrictions on his limited detention privileges.

As an example, he cited that his daily time outside his cell was reduced from six hours to three hours after he made a controversial statement about refusing to pay a Rs. 30 million bribe allegedly demanded by former Minister Tiran Alles and a former Inspector General of Police who has since been removed from office.

The family also alleges that his detention conditions are designed to break his silence, including isolation, poor food quality, lack of access to his wife and child, and medical neglect. He previously contracted chikungunya while in detention, which his family claims was linked to unsanitary conditions around his cell.

The complaint urges the United Nations body to press the Sri Lankan government to address what it describes as arbitrary and politically motivated detention.

Sri Lankan authorities have not yet responded publicly to the latest allegations. (Newswire)

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, who is currently on a visit to Geneva, has visited several international Buddhist institutions in the city. 

Minister Vijitha Herath has visited the International Buddhist Foundation (IBF) and the International Buddhist Centre in Geneva.

During his visit to the IBF, Minister Herath met Ven. Halyale Wimalarathana Thera and members of the IBF.

“Our discussion reflected on the important contributions of the Buddhist community in strengthening cultural understanding and promoting Sri Lanka’s heritage internationally,” the minister said in a statement.

Meanwhile, during his visit to the International Buddhist Centre in Geneva, Minister Herath met the Most Ven. Prof. Madawala Seelawimala Thero, Most Ven. Thawalama Dammika Thero, and Ven. Halwitigala Sujatha Thero. 

“A meaningful opportunity to share thoughts on Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heritage and its global connections,” he said, commenting on the meeting. 

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath is in Geneva to participate in the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which commenced on 08th September and will continue until 08th October. (Newswire)

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A recent report by the external mechanism established in Geneva to collect evidence against soldiers and political leaders accused of war crimes in Sri Lanka reveals there is a significant amount of evidence against the military leaders of this country, Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security MP Sarath Weerasekera said. 

According to MP Sarath Weerasekera, an external mechanism was established in Geneva, Switzerland for the past 2 years according to resolution 46/1 to collect evidence related to war crimes against soldiers and political leaders who were accused of committing war crimes. 

He further stated that, in a report recently published by the said mechanism, it has been stated that they have a significant amount of evidence against the military leaders of this country.

Stating that this external mechanism can describe the war in this country as a war against the Tamils ​​and not against the LTTE, MP Weerasekera emphasized that this activity is a threat to the self-esteem of the Sri Lankan war heroes as well as the national security.

He said therefore, the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security was of the view that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately take measures to stop the accusations of war crimes by other countries of the world against the Sri Lankan military personnel and the prosecution of cases in the International Military Tribunal. 

MP Weerasekera added that the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has further asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the strategies they have to reject the external mechanism brought by the Geneva Human Rights Organizations and their readiness to take action against them if they are prosecuted in the International Military Tribunal.

MP Weerasekera expressed these views when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security met in Parliament recently (June 05).

At the committee meeting, it was disclosed that several countries are currently working together to file cases in the relevant countries and international courts under the universal jurisdiction against the military leaders of Sri Lanka who have been found to have committed war crimes.

Although this external mechanism has been rejected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, they are continuously collecting evidence against the military leaders of Sri Lanka and the dangerous situation here is that the military officers of Sri Lanka can be arrested in any country of the world and prosecuted in the International Court of Justice. 

It was also informed that this external mechanism has the ability to describe the war in this country as a war against the Tamils ​​and not against the LTTE. It was emphasized that this activity is a threat to the self-esteem of the Sri Lankan war heroes as well as the national security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately take measures to stop the accusations of war crimes by other countries of the world against the Sri Lankan military personnel and the prosecution of cases in the International Military Tribunal. 

Here, the Committee asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the strategies they have to reject the external mechanism brought by the Geneva Human Rights Organizations and their readiness to take action against them if they are prosecuted in the International Military Tribunal.

Responding, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Ministry has taken steps to inform the countries that are acting impartially in this regard by expressing a strong protest against the reports of the Geneva Human Rights Commission.

Attorney at Law Darshana Weerasekera, who was called before the committee to express further comments in this regard, stated that Sri Lanka should have a strong domestic mechanism that can break the external mechanism with evidence. He also said that for this purpose, a strong local data file should be prepared by incorporating the facts of the LLRC report and the Paranagama report.

MP Sarath Weerasekera stated that the proposed Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation will further support the external forces that are against this country. (Newswire)

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