Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament today that the Sri Lankan Government would not call for a vote on the latest resolution on Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), describing such actions as unproductive and contrary to the government’s policy of constructive diplomacy.
Addressing Parliament, Minister Herath underscored that previous administrations had repeatedly turned the UNHRC sessions into political theatre, spending millions of rupees in public funds to stage symbolic votes despite knowing the inevitable outcomes. Such practices, he said, damaged Sri Lanka’s credibility and distracted from genuine reconciliation efforts within the country.
“I saw that some media outlets had reported that the resolution on Sri Lanka was passed without a vote in the Human Rights Council on the 6th. As I explained at the beginning of my speech, demanding a vote in the Human Rights Council is a futile exercise. It is not the policy of our government to engage in those futile, anti-people displays that previous governments have made, misusing public money and time, knowing that they would lose the vote. When the resolution was presented on October 6, our Permanent Representative clearly presented Sri Lanka’s position on this matter,” the Minister said.
He further emphasized that the current administration’s approach is based on cooperation and engagement with international partners rather than confrontation. The government, he noted, is committed to strengthening domestic mechanisms for justice, human rights, and accountability—ensuring that Sri Lanka’s challenges are addressed within its own democratic framework.
“The aim of this government,” he said, “is to restore public confidence, safeguard the rule of law, and protect the rights of all citizens, irrespective of race or religion. Our foreign policy is built on mutual respect and pragmatic diplomacy—not empty gestures or political theatrics.”
Minister Herath concluded by reaffirming that Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva had already conveyed the country’s firm position during the October 6 session, rejecting externally driven mechanisms while reiterating Sri Lanka’s commitment to national reform and the protection of human rights through credible domestic institutions.
