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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US President Donald Trump wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to be the next secretary-general of the United Nations, The Post has learned.

Infantino, 56, grew close to Trump through organizing this year’s World Cup, with the Swiss-born soccer administrator bending over backward to charm and include Trump, even giving him FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize in December.

Trump believes that Infantino “is respected by everyone around the world, and recognizes he has a special ability to bring people together,” a source close to the president told The Post.

The next secretary-general will be elected this year to replace the retiring António Guterres of Portugal, who will step down at the end of December. 

To secure the position, Infantino would need to win the endorsement of the 15-member Security Council — where the five permanent members hold vetoes — followed by confirmation by the General Assembly. 

It’s unclear if Infantino wants the job and to what extent Trump has discussed the topic with him.

But Trump senses a clear opening among a field that one insider described as seven “lame” candidates.

The best-known contenders include Chile’s socialist former president Michelle Bachelet, who could face US resistance, and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, the current director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who could face concerns from the UK over the disputed Falkland Islands.

Trump’s concept would upend the anticipated selection of a candidate from Latin America or the Caribbean — a region last repped by secretary-general Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru between 1982 and 1991.

But multiple sources say that soft geographic rotation would not necessarily block Infantino and that it’s possible he could pick up multiple nominations in addition to Trump’s.

Paolo Zampolli, the Italian-American businessman and diplomat serving as Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, told The Post that “only President Trump could have such a genius idea.”

Zampolli said Infantino “would do a great job” and is “liked by everybody” — describing him as potentially bringing fresh energy to the massive bureaucracy and using sports to build new bridges and inspire the world’s young and poor populations.

“There is some similarity” between the roles of FIFA president and UN secretary-general, said Zampolli, a personal friend of Infantino’s and a former ambassador to the UN for the small island nation of Dominica.

“At the United Nations, you have to deal with 193 member states. In FIFA, there are over 200 members [and] Gianni’s great record shows he knows how to manage.”

Zampolli spent time with Infantino at last weekend’s World Cup final in New Jersey but said they did not discuss the concept and was surprised to learn of it from The Post.

Trump has fumed about what he views as the UN’s inactivity in mediating major world conflicts and last year created a new US-led Board of Peace that drew speculation he was setting up a rival organization — as he brokered peace deals, including between Israel and Hamas — though Trump denied it and said he hopes the UN will take a more active role.

Since reentering the White House last year, Trump has slashed US contributions to the UN and withdrawn from many of its sub-organizations, including the World Health Organization, UNESCO and the UN Human Rights Council.

Installing Infantino could improve Trump’s relationship with the UN.

However, if the president is successful, it would come with a steep pay cut for Infantino, who earns about $6 million a year at FIFA.

The secretary-general’s recently reported compensation amounted to about $418,000. 

Infantino has declared his candidacy for re-election as FIFA president. That selection process occurs next March.

He did not immediately respond to The Post’s emailed request for comment about the UN opening.

Although he’s lined up endorsements for reelection from nearly all of FIFA’s 211 member associations, he faces blowback over Trump’s intervention on behalf of the US team in the World Cup to overturn a one-game suspension of Folarin Balogun ahead of the match with Belgium.

Balogun’s reinstatement outraged European nations, but the American loss to Belgium blunted the fallout. Still, disgraced ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter, whose tenure was marred by a bribery scandal in awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, is among those clamoring for Infantino’s ouster. (New York Post)

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Representatives of the Democratic United Opposition met with Marc‑Andre Franche, the UN Resident Coordinator, today (15) to brief him on what they described as critical issues facing Sri Lanka.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Professor G.L. Peiris said the opposition had conveyed strong objections to the government’s proposed judicial reforms.

“No one in Sri Lanka has asked for these reforms. The legal community, civil society, magistrates, and parliamentarians are all opposed. Whose wish is this being carried out for?” he asked.

He criticized the lack of transparency, noting that the government had not issued any clear statement on the nature or purpose of the reforms. He contrasted this with the UK’s 2021 reform process, which involved public consultations and over 1,200 responses before decisions were finalized.

Peiris added that extending the tenure of judges without similar consideration for other professionals, such as specialist doctors, was discriminatory and violated Article 12(1) of the Constitution.

“Instead of solving the country’s pressing problems, the government is creating unnecessary complications,” he said.

Also speaking to reporters, former minister Suren Raghavan said the opposition had also raised concerns about the Negombo Prison riot, which left 33 people dead, including 10 officials. 

He noted that while a three‑member committee led by Justice Priyantha Jayawardena had been appointed, no interim report or official statement had been released even ten days after the incident.

Raghavan questioned the use of live ammunition instead of minimum force measures such as rubber bullets or tear gas. “International practice requires minimum force. Why was that not applied here?” he asked.

He criticized the government’s silence, saying it had offered only vague statements while public expectations remained high. He also pointed out that many ruling party MPs lacked grassroots political experience, raising doubts about their ability to respond effectively to cultural and social realities.

Referring to the deaths at Negombo Prison, Raghavan stressed the importance of protecting the right to life, a principle recognized internationally and by the UN Council.

“If even one innocent person is punished, it is far more dangerous than letting a thousand guilty go free,” he said.

Both Peiris and Raghavan emphasized that the public had expected a system change from the government, ensuring rule of law, economic stability, food security, transport facilities, and structured education. 

They rejected violent protests and strikes, insisting that democracy in the 21st century must be based on consultation, participation, and listening to the people.

Raghavan appealed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the government, stating, “Democracy today means consultation and participation. My request and pressure is for the leadership to adopt such a democratic framework for the good of the country.” (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka has reaffirmed its commitment to building a modern and inclusive intellectual property system at the Sixty‑Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), held at WIPO Headquarters in Geneva recently (08). 

Addressing the session, Permanent Representative Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake underscored the role of intellectual property as a driver of innovation, creativity, trade, technology transfer, and inclusive economic development, while highlighting Sri Lanka’s recent progress and future priorities in the field. 

He highlighted its contribution to empowering inventors, creators, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), women, youth and academia, thereby supporting sustainable economic growth.

Ambassador Dassanayake noted the successful completion of the IP document digitization and scanning project in May 2026 and the inclusion of Sri Lanka’s national trademark collection in WIPO’s Global Brand Database, which enhances the international visibility of Sri Lankan trademarks.

The Permanent Representative also outlined Sri Lanka’s priority areas in the field of intellectual property, including the promotion of geographical indications, strengthening the copyright framework, fostering innovation, enhancing university–industry collaboration, and supporting research and development.

Reaffirming Sri Lanka’s strong partnership with WIPO, Ambassador Dassanayake expressed appreciation for the Organization’s continued technical assistance and capacity-building support. He also reiterated Sri Lanka’s support for the implementation of WIPO’s Development Agenda. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake, underscored the country’s dedication to achieving a world free of cluster munitions during the Second Preparatory Meeting of the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) on July 1, 2026. 

Addressing delegates at the Palais des Nations, he welcomed the draft Vientiane Capital Action Plan (VCAP) 2027–2031, praised its alignment with global humanitarian and development frameworks, and offered constructive proposals to strengthen its implementation ahead of adoption at the September conference in Laos. 

The Vientiane Capital Action Plan is designed for the next five years to implement the Convention on Cluster Munition and will be adopted at the Third Review Conference to be held in Vientiane in the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic in September 2026. 

According to the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake also expressed support of Sri Lanka to the Presidency of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic for its leadership for the Third Review Conference.

In his statement, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake welcomed positive elements of the draft Vientiane Capital Action Plan, describing it as a constructive evolution of the previous action plan. He commended its focus on environmental protection, victim assistance, and alignment with global frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agendas, and the promotion of peace, human rights, and international humanitarian law.

In a constructive spirit, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake proposed to maintain coherent and consistent language to reflect the gender and diversity needs, establish clearer data verification methods, necessity for explicit guidance on environmental standards, compliance indicators, and impact assessment methodologies and to enhance technical assistance for affected states with limited administrative capacity to collect data and reporting etc.

Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake concluded by reaffirming Sri Lanka’s steadfast commitment to collaborating constructively with the Presidency and Member States to finalize a robust Vientiane Capital Action Plan that will effectively guide global efforts towards achieving a cluster-munition-free world. (Newswire)

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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action to address what he described as two interconnected global crises: climate change and energy insecurity. 

Speaking at London Climate Action Week, the UN Chief warned that continued dependence on fossil fuels is driving both rising temperatures and growing energy vulnerabilities, while underscoring that renewable energy offers a pathway to greater energy security, affordability and resilience. 

“The verdict is in: energy independence cannot be built on fossil fuel dependence,” the Secretary-General said, highlighting that renewable energy is now the cheapest source of new electricity in most parts of the world and a cornerstone of long-term energy security. 

Warning that climate impacts are already disrupting lives, livelihoods and economies around the world, the Secretary-General stressed that accelerating the transition to clean energy is essential to building a more secure, resilient and sustainable future. This message is particularly relevant for Sri Lanka, which is already experiencing the effects of climate change through more frequent floods, droughts and extreme weather events. 

The Secretary-General also announced a global Call to Action on Methane, focused on accelerating emissions reductions across the fossil fuel, agriculture and waste sectors. Methane is responsible for around one-third of global warming, making it one of the fastest opportunities to slow climate change while delivering benefits for public health, food security and sustainable development. 

He also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence, noting that while AI can help advance climate solutions, the systems that power it consume significant amounts of energy, water and land. The Secretary-General proposed an AI Environmental Transparency Initiative, calling on major AI companies to disclose the environmental footprint of their systems and transition data centres to renewable energy by 2030. 

Responding to the rising threat of climate change, Sri Lanka has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20.09 per cent by 2035 through its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0). The country also aims to generate 70 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, expand forest cover and reduce emissions from the waste sector through improved recycling and waste management. The transition also presents significant opportunities for Sri Lanka. 

Commenting on the Secretary-General’s address, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche noted how recent global events have highlighted how vulnerable countries can be to disruptions in international energy markets: “Accelerating the shift to renewable energy is not only a climate imperative; it is also an investment in Sri Lanka’s energy security, economic resilience and long-term fiscal stability. With the right investments and partnerships, the transition can create jobs, strengthen communities, while mitigating the impacts of climate change”. (UN Sri Lanka)

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Sri Lanka assumed the presidency of the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties (CoSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the United Nations Headquarters, marking a historic role in the global forum’s 20th anniversary. 

Ambassador Jayantha Jayasuriya, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, chaired the opening session, which brought together world leaders, UN officials, and disability advocates to celebrate achievements of the CRPD and chart its next phase of implementation in a changing world. 

This event being the 20th Anniversary of the CRPD recorded the highest number of speakers for the General Debate in its history.   

The Opening Session was attended by the Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres and the Under Secretary General of UN DESA Junhua.

Assuming the Presidency of the 19th session of the Conference of State Parties to the CRPD, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York Jayantha Jayasuriya, during the Opening Session stressed the importance of creating a world free from exploitation, violence and abuse of persons of disabilities. He also touched upon the achievements of the CRPD and how it has globally changed the perception of disability.

The UN Secretary General in his opening remarks articulated the need to prioritize persons of disabilities when addressing global challenges and urged governments to empower persons with disabilities as full partners in policymaking and decision making.  

Ambassador Jayasuriya delivered the national statement of Sri Lanka for CoSP 19 highlighting the importance Sri Lanka attaches to the welfare of persons of disabilities and its commitment in realizing the scope of the CRPD.  

Addressing the opening session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Sri Lanka’s Youth Representative Nilshani De Silva highlighted the important steps Sri Lanka has taken to protect persons of disabilities. She also outlined the various measures undertaken by the Government for the welfare of disabled persons.  Drawing on her lived experience as a person with Down Syndrome, she emphasized that the Convention represents a commitment to dignity, inclusion, equality, and opportunity for all persons with disabilities. De Silva also called for the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities, particularly young people, in decision-making processes, stressing that their voices must be heard and represented in shaping policies and societies that affect their lives.

The 19th Conference of States Parties (COSP19) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities focused on three key thematic areas aimed at advancing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities worldwide. 

Discussions held through three high-level roundtables: creating a world free from exploitation, violence and abuse for all persons with disabilities; Building Resilient societies: strengthening care and support systems to ensure the empowerment, autonomy and independence of all persons with disabilities; and enhancing accessible civic engagement, leadership and advocacy in political and public life.

Following the Roundtable discussions, Ambassador Jayasuriya chaired an Interactive Dialogue among States parties, the United Nations Agencies, and other stakeholders on the implementation of the Convention. (Newswire)

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Responding to Middle East crises and rising oil prices, the United Nations on Tuesday lowered its forecast for global economic growth and raised the prospects for inflation this year.

U.N. economists said global GDP growth is now forecast at 2.5% for 2026, down from 2.7% in January, and they said it could fall to only 2.1% “in a more adverse scenario.”

That would be one of the weakest growth rates this century, outside of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global financial crisis of 2008, Shantanu Mukherjee, director of economic analysis in the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said at a news conference.

On a somewhat positive note, he said, “we are not close” to a recession, but life can get harder for billions of people, and some countries may see their economies contract.

Global inflation is projected to rise to 3.9% this year, 0.8% higher than forecast in January, before the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. Iran responded by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for shipments of oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other petroleum products.

“Increased energy prices are a potent factor, as are the prices of refinery products that are crucial to industrial production and commercial transport,” Mukherjee said.

But he stressed that not all countries will experience the same rate of inflation.

In richer developed countries, inflation is projected to rise from 2.6% in 2025 to 2.9% in 2026. In developing countries, inflation is forecast to accelerate from 4.2% to 5.2% as higher costs for energy, transportation and imported goods erode real incomes.

The impact of the Iran war has been highly uneven, with the most severe economic damage concentrated in West Asia, a region comprised of 21 Arab countries, including those in the Persian Gulf, according to the World Economic Situation and Prospects report for mid-2026.

Economic growth in the region is projected to plunge from 3.6% in 2025 to 1.4% in 2026, “driven not only by the energy shock but also by direct infrastructure damage and severe disruptions to oil production, trade and tourism.”

In Africa, average growth is projected to drop only slightly, from 4.2% last year to 3.9% this year, according to the report. And in Latin America and the Caribbean, it is forecast to slow from 2.5% to 2.3% in 2026.

In the United States, the economy is expected to remain “comparatively resilient” with 2% growth forecast this year, broadly similar to 2025, it said.

By contract, Europe “is more exposed, with heavy reliance on imported energy straining households and businesses,” the economists said. Economic growth in the European Union is expected to slow from 1.5% in 2025 to 1.1% in 2026, while growth in the United Kingdom is forecast to drop further, from 1.4% last year to 0.7% this year.

In Asia, the U.N. said China’s diversified energy mix, sizable strategic reserves and government actions are providing a buffer, so its economic growth is only expected to slow from 5% in 2025 to 4.6% this year.

India is forecast to remain one of the fastest growing major economics, with its economy expanding by 6.4% this year, although that is lower than its 7.5% growth in 2025.

“The question for China, similar to the case of India and other countries, is just how long with this conflict and the impact of the conflict last, because all these different buffers are clearly limited,” senior U.N. economist Ingo Pitterle told reporters. (AP)

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Since the start of the conflict, the number of attacks on healthcare in Lebanon has climbed to 149, leaving 100 dead and 233 injured, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

UN officials stressed that attacks on civilians, health workers, and infrastructure are “unacceptable” and violate international humanitarian law. 

“All parties in this conflict have to observe their obligations under these laws,” United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said at Wednesday’s briefing.

He further said that the alarming toll underscores the grave risks faced by civilians, emergency responders, and humanitarian workers amid escalating violence.

On Tuesday, three civil defence rescue workers were killed in Tyre District when two strikes hit a building they had entered to assist victims of an earlier attack. The incident highlights the vulnerability of first responders, who continue to operate under life-threatening conditions.

Israeli authorities today issued a new displacement order south of the Litani River, covering 16 areas and directing residents to relocate to Saida. Women and children remain disproportionately affected, with reports of mounting psychological distress, family separation, and heightened risks of gender-based violence in overcrowded shelters, he said. 

Stéphane Dujarric went on to note that humanitarian agencies warn that the crisis is deepening.

He revealed that the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have stated that the sharp escalation in violence has reversed recent food security gains. 

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) projects that 1.24 million people, nearly one in four assessed, will face Crisis-level hunger (IPC Phase 3 or worse) between April and August 2026. IPC Phase 3 indicates households resorting to skipping meals or selling possessions to afford food.

Noting that despite urgent needs, the humanitarian response remains severely underfunded, he said that the Lebanon Flash Appeal has received just over $117 million, only 38 per cent of the required $308 million. (Newswire)

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Continuing his official visit to the United Nations Headquarters, Sri Lanka’s Secretary of Defence, Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha, has held a high‑level meeting with Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary‑General responsible for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific at the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA‑DPO).

According to the Defence Ministry, the meeting on Wednesday (22) was attended by Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jayantha Jayasooriya, along with members of the Sri Lankan delegation.

During discussions, the delegation outlined preparatory measures for the proposed deployment of Sri Lankan troops for UN operations. 

It was stressed that all personnel selected for deployment will undergo extensive training on the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP), International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and International Human Rights Law (IHRL).

These training programmes are designed to ensure compliance with UN requirements and reinforce professional conduct in operational environments. 

The modules will also provide clear guidance on the consequences of violations of established norms and standards.

The Defence Ministry further said that robust accountability mechanisms will be in place, including procedures for reporting and investigating allegations, and disciplinary actions against individuals found guilty by competent authorities. 

The role of the National Investigation Officer in this process was also highlighted during the discussion. (Newswire)

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Israel’s systematic torture of Palestinians, long shielded by decades of impunity and political cover, has become a defining instrument of ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory, a UN expert warned today. 

“Since the onset of the genocide, the Israeli prison system has degenerated into a laboratory of calculated cruelty,” said Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, in her new report to the UN Human Rights Council.

“What once operated in the shadows is now practiced openly: a regime of organised humiliation, pain and degradation, sanctioned at the highest political levels.”

Albanese said policies imposed by senior officials, including the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, have institutionalised torture, collective punishment and manifestly dehumanising conditions of detention. 

“Those responsible for these heinous violations of human rights, from which no derogation is possible even in times of war, must face investigation and justice, including before the International Criminal Court,” the Special Rapporteur said.                 

Albanese’s report warns that since October 2023, more than 18,500 Palestinians have been detained across the occupied Palestinian territory, including at least 1,500 children. Thousands remain in detention without charge or trial. Many have been forcibly disappeared. Nearly 100 detainees have died in custody. Detainees have been abused in unfathomable ways, including rape with bottles, metal rods and knives, starvation, breaking of bones and teeth, burning, being spat upon, and being attacked and urinated upon by dogs. 

In 2025, the UN Committee against Torture denounced “a de facto State policy of organized and widespread torture and ill-treatment … that has gravely intensified since 7 October 2023.”

“A system that has long been used to dominate, degrade and break Palestinians has evolved and hardened into state doctrine,” Albanese warned. 

“It is defended by politicians, rationalised by legal institutions, sanitised by media narrative and tolerated by governments that continue to arm and shield Israel.”  

The report by the Special Rapporteur finds that torture extends beyond prison walls. Through relentless bombardment, forced displacement, starvation, the destruction of homes, hospitals and infrastructure, pervasive surveillance, and terror inflicted by soldiers and settler terror militias, Israel has created what the report calls a “torturous environment” across the entire occupied Palestinian territory.

“In Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Palestinians are subjected to a continuum of suffering,” Albanese said. “There is no refuge. No sanctuary. No safe place to exist.”

The report concludes that the systematic use of torture, combined with the wider campaign of destruction inflicted on Palestinians, forms an integral component of the ongoing genocide, inflicting severe bodily and mental harm on Palestinians as a group. 

“Torture does to the individual what genocide does to a people,” she said. “It destroys the conditions of life and human dignity. It reduces human beings to objects of abuse,” the expert said. 

Albanese urged Israel to immediately cease all acts of torture and ill-treatment, grant access to international investigators and humanitarian organizations, and ensure accountability for those responsible pending its urgently needed dismantlement of the occupation.

“Member states must meet their legal obligations to prevent and punish genocide, torture and other serious violations of international law,” she said, including by investigating and issuing arrest warrants for those responsible, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich and Israel Katz.

“International law is unequivocal: torture is absolutely prohibited, without exception,” Albanese said.

“Its increasing use as part of Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people makes this violation all the more grave and indefensible,” she said. “If the international community continues to tolerate such acts when inflicted on Palestinians, then the law itself will be stripped of meaning.” (UN – Special Procedures)

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Ahead of International Women’s Day, the United Nations in Sri Lanka has released a factsheet outlining key challenges faced by women and girls in the country. 

Under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, the UN calls for closing the gap between legal rights and lived realities.

The overview highlights shortcomings in legal protections, climate impacts, economic participation, leadership, and digital access, stressing that gender equality continues to be held back by gaps in justice.

Legal Justice

• 28 laws contain 67 gender-discriminatory provisions affecting family law, employment, education, gender-based violence, abortion, sex work, and citizenship.
• 1 in 4 women has experienced physical or sexual violence in relationships; nearly half did not seek formal help.
• 90% of women have faced sexual harassment on public transport, with only a small fraction reporting incidents.

Climate Justice

• Floods, droughts, and landslides disproportionately affect women in agriculture, fisheries, and informal work.
• Climate shocks increase unpaid care work, disrupt maternal health services, and heighten risks of gender-based violence.

Economic Justice

• Women’s labour force participation is 31.6%, compared to about 70% for men, largely due to unpaid care responsibilities.
• Women-led businesses face an estimated USD 17 billion financing gap, limiting growth opportunities.

Social Justice

• Women make up more than half of the population but remain underrepresented in leadership.
• Less than 10% of seats in Parliament are held by women (22 out of 225 MPs).
• Only 2 of 23 cabinet positions are occupied by women.

Digital Justice

• 62% of women are digitally literate, but only 34.6% are computer literate, showing a significant gap.
• Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is rising, with 58% of cybercrime complaints reported by women and girls.
• Fear of harassment and weak protections limit women’s participation online.

The UN stresses that closing these justice gaps is essential to fully realizing women’s rights in Sri Lanka, urging stronger action across legal, social, economic, and digital spheres. (Newswire)

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The United Nations in Sri Lanka has released its latest situation overview on Cyclone Ditwah, warning that the disaster has triggered the most extensive flooding and landslide damage in two decades, affecting 2.2 million people across all 25 districts. 

According to the Disaster Management Centre, as of December 29, 2025, the cyclone had claimed 646 lives and left 173 missing.

“Cyclone Ditwah has created a complex and evolving displacement landscape,” UN Sri Lanka noted, with more than 165,000 people still displaced or staying with host families, and 85 Safety Centres hosting around 6,680 people.

Housing damage remains severe, with nearly 6,000 homes destroyed and over 108,000 partially damaged, while water and sanitation systems in rural areas remain largely unrepaired.

The UN highlighted urgent protection concerns, particularly for women and children, citing inadequate safe spaces, poor lighting, and heightened risks of gender-based violence.

It also reported that 113 children lost one or both parents, including 15 who were fully orphaned, raising serious concerns about household stability and child welfare. 

Health authorities, meanwhile, warn of rising malnutrition risks among children under five, underscoring the need for sustained humanitarian support under the UN Humanitarian Priorities Plan.

Full report: https://srilanka.un.org/sites/default/files/2026-02/Cyclone_Ditwah__SitRep%20%237.pdf (Newswire)

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A new United Nations report about sexual violence related to Sri Lanka’s civil war is another step forward in the struggle for accountability for crimes under international law that were committed in Sri Lanka, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.

Issuing a statement, HRW said that the UN report, issued on January 13, 2025, finds that sexual violence was “part of a deliberate, widespread, and systemic pattern of violations” by state security forces, and “may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

The findings, based on survivors’ accounts of crimes committed against both women and men, underline the urgent need for the Sri Lankan government to provide relief and justice to survivors and to hold those responsible to account. Foreign governments should assist efforts to promote accountability, including through targeted sanctions, criminal investigations, and prosecutions, Human Rights Watch said.

“While the appalling rape and murder of Tamil women by Sri Lankan soldiers at the war’s end has long been known, the UN report shows that systematic sexual abuse was ignored, concealed, and even justified by Sri Lankan governments unwilling to punish those responsible,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Sri Lanka’s international partners need to step up their efforts to promote accountability for war crimes in Sri Lanka.”

The UN Human Rights Council set up the Sri Lanka Accountability Project in 2021 to collect evidence of crimes under international law committed in Sri Lanka. Successive Sri Lankan governments have failed to credibly investigate and prosecute international crimes related to the 26-year civil war between government forces and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The current government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake came to office in 2024, promising to “deliver justice”, but has made no apparent progress, while victims and survivors continue to suffer long-term harm. Under international women’s rights standards, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the UN Women, Peace and Security agenda, Sri Lanka’s failure to address conflict-related sexual violence heightens concerns about accountability and survivors’ rights.

During the armed conflict, which ended on May 18, 2009, both sides committed numerous war crimes, particularly in the final months of the fighting. Photographs and mobile phone videos, seemingly made as keepsakes by government soldiers, show summary executions of prisoners and corpses of naked women fighters who were apparently raped and then murdered. Human Rights Watch has found that successive Sri Lankan governments had stalled investigations and denied justice.

The UN researchers found that sexual violence was “institutionally enabled” by the state and “employed as a strategic tool to extract information, assert dominance, intimidate individuals and communities, and instill a pervasive climate of fear and humiliation” throughout the war. The victims and survivors were mostly from conflict-affected Tamil communities, and these violations occurred primarily in state-run detention facilities.

Survivors recounted lasting medical problems and social stigma. However, the researchers said that there is “no currently visible path to justice or restoration” for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Sri Lanka.

The UN researchers found that “men were as likely as women to have been victims” of sexual violence, but that the particular stigma affecting male survivors made engaging them during the research “especially challenging.”

Another legacy of these crimes is the prevalence of sexual violence in post-conflict Sri Lanka, the researchers found. Survivors described an enduring climate of intimidation and “ongoing surveillance, often by the very officers responsible for past abuse.”

There are significant legal and institutional obstacles to justice, including a 20-year statute of limitations in sexual violence cases and the fact that Sri Lankan law does not recognize the rape of men. Some survivors who attempted to register complaints described humiliating or intimidating experiences with the police and court authorities. “Survivors cannot be expected to seek protection from the very entity they fear,” one respondent told the UN.

In 2018, the Sri Lankan government established the Office for Reparations Act to compensate victims and survivors of the conflict, but according to the UN, the government “has not taken any concrete steps to provide them with interim or full reparations, and has not disaggregated statistics of its caseload by gender.” Under international law, survivors have a right to reparations, and the failure to provide them has left many without care, dignity, or justice.

The Sri Lankan government and its international partners should urgently develop a program to deliver support, including medical treatment, and interim relief to survivors, Human Rights Watch said. Many survivors have placed their hope in foreign governments or international organizations to promote justice. Yet, the report says: “While international actors have expressed concern, meaningful steps toward facilitating credible accountability and access to justice for survivors have remained limited.”

“Sri Lanka is obligated under international law to prosecute perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and until it does, foreign governments need to do more to press for accountability,” Ganguly said. “That means providing support for legal processes, better vetting of military personnel for peacekeeping missions, and concerted efforts to bring criminal cases abroad under universal jurisdiction.” (Newswire)

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The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York recently (Dec 11) marked the 70th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s membership in the United Nations through a series of activities, underscoring the country’s longstanding commitment to international cooperation, principled multilateralism, and inclusive global engagement.

Under the leadership of Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jayantha Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka joined fifteen other Member States, Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Nepal, Portugal, Romania, and Spain, at United Nations Headquarters to mark a shared milestone. 

The high-level discussion brought together Ambassadors of these sixteen states and a panel of political analysts to reflect on achievements, challenges, and the future of the multilateral system. The event was broadcast on UN Live WebTV.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Jayasuriya stated, “As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations this year, we celebrate its achievements and its indispensable role in the multilateral system. But anniversaries are also moments for reflection. Together, we must strengthen and improve this intergovernmental Organization for the future without compromising its core objectives or guiding principles, so that we may continue to work towards a fairer, more just, and prosperous global order.”

During the joint commemoration, the sixteen Ambassadors unveiled a special commemorative stamp symbolizing unity, cooperation, and the equal place of each Member State within the United Nations.

Earlier in the year, during UN Open Source Week in June 2025, the Mission partnered with the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN and Wiki Media to host an “Edit-A-Thon” highlighting the importance of open and reliable information in preserving the institutional memory of the UN. 

Ambassador Jayasuriya noted, “This event is a chance to strengthen the UN’s historical record, empower young people, and center diverse perspectives, including voices from the Global South, vulnerable communities, and youth.”

In October 2025, the Mission hosted a fellowship gathering to honour Sri Lankan nationals who have served across the United Nations system. 

Ambassador Jayasuriya recognized their contributions, stating, “Those of you working in the UN today carry forward a proud legacy built by generations of Sri Lankans who have distinguished themselves as diplomats, jurists, scholars, peacekeepers, and international civil servants.”

Through these events, Sri Lanka reaffirmed its enduring commitment to the United Nations and to working constructively with fellow Member States to strengthen multilateralism and advance shared global goals in the decades ahead. (Newswire)

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The United Nations today (11) launched its Humanitarian Priorities Plan, aiming to raise USD 35 million over the next four months, to support efforts to restore the lives of Sri Lankans affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

The plan aims to reach 658,000 of the most vulnerable people between December 2025 and April 2026, following a formal request for international assistance from the Government of Sri Lanka.

The plan follows the Government’s request for international assistance and complements and supports ongoing national efforts by directing assistance to the people and areas most severely impacted by the cyclone. The HPP’s support spans immediate life-saving assistance in education; food security, agriculture and nutrition; health; protection; shelter, non-food items and camp coordination; water, sanitation and hygiene; and early recovery. It outlines how humanitarian partners are working together to deliver assistance rapidly and in complementarity to nationally led efforts to meet critical needs.

Support under the plan is guided by identified vulnerabilities as well as findings from the Joint Rapid Needs Assessment completed with the Disaster Management Centre. An in-depth analysis is underway to guide further interventions. 

Cyclone Ditwah has caused extensive loss of life and widespread damage across the country. At its peak, nearly 2.2 million people were affected, with over 600 deaths recorded to date and nearly 200 people still missing. More than 91,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed.  While some families have begun to return home or seek alternative shelter, data indicates that over 85,000 people remain in safety centres. Ongoing monsoon rains continue to pose a hazard, prompting continued landslide warnings and preventing many others from returning.

“Cyclone Ditwah has hit the poorest and the most vulnerable the hardest. It has affected nearly every aspect of their lives, intensifying difficulties they were already facing,” said Marc-André Franche, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka. “The Humanitarian Priorities Plan provides a focused approach to delivering life-saving assistance to those most affected, while supporting early recovery. We are calling on the international community to stand with Sri Lanka at this critical moment. Only through continued solidarity and strengthened support can we help families rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience.”

Beyond the immediate destruction, the impact of the cyclone is placing additional strain on already vulnerable families. Flood water and damaged sanitation systems have increased the risk of water- and vector-borne diseases, while access to health services remains constrained in several districts. Food security is affected due to crop losses, market disruptions and reduced incomes, heightening risks for households already struggling to meet basic needs.

Protection risks are also increasing, with crowded shelters and limited facilities heightening the risk of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly for women and girls. An estimated 462,000 children are among those affected by the cyclone, many of whom face disruptions to essential services. 

The UN and humanitarian partners are continuing to work closely with national authorities to meet urgent needs. From the outset of the disaster, relief items, including non-food items, safe water and sanitation, maternity and dignity kits, and emergency food supplies have been reaching affected communities.

While initial contributions from bilateral partners and US$ 4.5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) are enabling rapid assistance, significant gaps remain. The HPP outlines the urgent need for additional resources to fully fund the response and safeguard the most vulnerable. 

The United Nations calls on the international community to contribute to ensure that life-saving assistance reaches all who need it most.

A briefing on the Humanitarian Priorities Plan was held by the UN with the participation of development partners, international financial institutions, and civil society organizations. The Commissioner General of Essential Services, the Director General of the Disaster Management Centre and the Director General of the Emergency Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present. (Newswire)

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The United Nations has allocated US$4.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to strengthen Sri Lanka’s response to Cyclone Ditwah, which made landfall on 28 November. 

The funds will enable the UN to rapidly scale up emergency food assistance, shelter support, and water, sanitation and hygiene services for the communities most severely affected by the floods and landslides that have impacted the country. 

Communities across Sri Lanka are continuing to grapple with the widespread impacts of the cyclone, with thousands of families still displaced after extensive damage to housing and infrastructure. Even as response efforts are underway, latest assessments indicate that the effects of the cyclone are broader and more severe than initially understood, leaving many communities in urgent need of sustained support to fully recover from Cyclone Ditwah.

“This funding comes at a critical moment for Sri Lanka,” said Marc-André Franche, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka. “Cyclone Ditwah has upended lives across the country, and many families are still struggling to meet their basic daily needs. The UN was quick to provide support with urgent relief items and equipment. We are working closely with the Government, civil society partners and the humanitarian community in Sri Lanka to ensure a coordinated response guided by evidence and priority needs. This emergency funding will help us reach those most severely affected with the support they urgently need.”

The UN’s global emergency fund CERF enables rapid funding to humanitarian responders to help support life-saving, humanitarian activities in the initial stages of a sudden-onset crisis.

As the full scale of the devastation becomes clearer, the UN will expand its life-saving assistance to the hardest-hit communities through a broader Humanitarian Priorities Plan, expected to be announced this week. (Newswire)

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The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says initial assessments indicate that more than 15,000 homes have been destroyed due to the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.  

The OCHA further said that over 200 roads remain impassable, at least 10 bridges have been damaged, and sections of the rail network and national power grid affected.

The initial assessments also report that 998,918 people across all 25 districts have now been affected, with 212 deaths reported and 218 people missing. More than 180,000 people from over 51,000 families are sheltering in 1,094 government-run safety centres as search and rescue efforts continue.

Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on 28 November before moving back over the Bay of Bengal, triggering some of the most severe flooding Sri Lanka has seen since the early 2000s.

The hardest-hit districts include Gampaha, Colombo, Puttalam and Mannar, as well as Trincomalee and Batticaloa, while deadly landslides in the central hill country have devastated Kandy, Badulla and Matale.

Severe disruption to electricity, mobile and communications, and transport networks are reported in northern districts such as Jaffna, with entire villages isolated. 

Access to clean water also remains a major concern, with several areas reporting little or no supply.

Sri Lanka’s already fragile health system is under severe pressure, OCHA said. 

Several district hospitals remain flooded and are receiving only limited supplies, with critically ill patients being airlifted to functioning facilities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that floods significantly raise the risk of vector-borne, food-borne and water-borne diseases, urging communities to prevent mosquito bites, ensure food safety and use safe drinking water wherever possible.

The United Nations in Sri Lanka activated its emergency coordination system on Sunday to scale up a unified response with government agencies and humanitarian organizations.

Sector coordination has been set up across food security, health, water and sanitation (WASH), education, protection, shelter and early recovery, while a multi-sector needs assessment is under way with disaster management authorities to identify the most urgent gaps.

Full report: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/11/1166474 (Newswire)

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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who is on an official visit to India, has backed India’s long-pending bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

During an interview with Indian media ANI, Premadasa called it a recognition of “global power realities” and that he will continue to support that effort.

Premadasa said India’s inclusion in the UNSC “would be a recognition of the practical realities of international politics.”

“Years before, it was I who spoke openly about India being given a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. So it’s an old topic for me,” he said. “I will continue to support that effort, and I think that is a practical exposition of global power realities. You cannot discard India. You cannot marginalise India. India’s representation at the UNSC would be a recognition of the practical realities of international politics.”

Premadasa’s comments come at a time when India continues to push for reforms in the UNSC to make it more representative of emerging powers and developing nations.

When asked about Sri Lanka’s stance amid the complex India-China dynamic, Premadasa emphasised that Colombo values its “special strategic relationship” with New Delhi while maintaining ties with all nations.

“I can tell you what we believe in as a party, the main opposition party. We believe in having a special relationship, a special strategic relationship with India, and that relationship is very special,” he said.

“In that context, we also have to work with all other countries. Our common objective is to promote peace. Peacebuilding is our objective. While maintaining this special relationship with India, we would like to act as a mediator, as the middle person to bring about peace, harmony, security and tranquillity in all the regions you spoke about,” he added.

During his visit, Premadasa met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday, where both leaders discussed India-Sri Lanka relations under the “Neighbourhood First” policy.

“Pleased to meet Leader of Opposition @sajithpremadasa of Sri Lanka. Discussed India-Sri Lanka relations and our Neighbourhood First policy. India will always be supportive of progress and development in Sri Lanka,” Jaishankar wrote on X after the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Premadasa attended a talk at Sapru House organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), where he highlighted the need for a structured approach to resolve the long-standing fishermen issue between the two nations.

“The fishing issue is very important. The two countries must cooperate and establish a proper, workable framework, one that is based on fact and substance,” Premadasa said in a reply to a question by ANI at an event titled ‘India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations’ here.

He cited international conventions like the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and urged both sides to ensure that fishing activities remain legal and sustainable.

“There are international laws and regulations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concerning the continental shelf and high seas, which must be respected. It is important to ensure that illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing is addressed in line with these legal prescriptions,” he added.

Acknowledging the livelihood concerns of fishermen, he said, “We understand that this involves the livelihood of households, but it is equally important to ensure that all such income-generation methods are lawful. Rather than operating without a clear and permanent framework, both sides should work together toward a lasting solution.”

His remarks come amid ongoing tensions over Tamil Nadu fishermen entering Sri Lankan waters near Katchatheevu, often leading to arrests and maritime disputes. (Newswire/ ANI)

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Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says the Government’s development agenda is rooted in sustainability and human dignity and that the government aims to uplift every community and ensure that progress reaches all corners of the country.

She made these remarks while attending the United Nations Day 2025 commemoration held under the global theme “Our UN,” marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and 70 years of partnership between Sri Lanka and the UN. The national celebration took place on 23 October 2025 at the UN Headquarters in Colombo, with the participation of UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche and members of the UN Country Team.

The Prime Minister commended the United Nations for eight decades of global service and seven decades of meaningful partnership with Sri Lanka. She reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to upholding the shared principles of the UN Charter, peace, human rights, and sustainable development, and emphasized the continued relevance of multilateral cooperation in addressing global challenges.

“Eighty years ago, the world came together with a shared determination to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to reaffirm faith in human rights, and to promote social progress and development. These founding ideals, enshrined in the UN Charter, are more relevant today than ever before,” the Prime Minister stated.

Reflecting on the long-standing partnership between Sri Lanka and the United Nations, the Prime Minister noted that Sri Lanka has been an active and responsible member of the UN community since 1955, contributing to global peacekeeping, diplomacy, and sustainable development.

“Since deploying its first contingent to a UN Peacekeeping Mission in 1958, over 25,000 Sri Lankan men and women have served under the UN banner, ensuring peace and security in some of the most challenging deployments. Our country’s commitment to multilateralism has always been guided by shared responsibility and global solidarity,” she observed.

In her address, the Prime Minister also highlighted Sri Lanka’s ongoing national vision that aligns with the principles of sustainable and inclusive development promoted by the United Nations. She outlined several key initiatives of the Government, including the ‘Praja Shakthi’ National Programme aimed at eradicating poverty, the ‘Digital Sri Lanka’ initiative to modernize public service delivery and strengthen digital inclusion, and the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme, which promotes environmental, social, and ethical transformation.

PM Amarasuriya expressed appreciation for the contribution of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), including UNDP and other agencies, in supporting Sri Lanka’s development priorities through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). She noted that the Government values its partnership with the UN and its specialized agencies for their continued support in areas such as governance, poverty reduction, climate resilience, and post-conflict recovery.

The event was attended by UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche, members of the UN Country Team, diplomatic representatives, and other distinguished dignitaries and officials. (Newswire)

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