Sri Lanka says endorsed joint letter condemning Israel’s ban on UN chief
COLOMBO – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (21) clarified Sri Lanka’s stance on Israel designating the UN Secretary-General António Guterres as ‘persona non grata’, saying it had endorsed the joint letter signed by over 100 countries condemning Israel’s action.
In a statement issued on Monday, the foreign ministry said it had by “Note Verbale dated 11 October 2024, conveyed Sri Lanka’s desire to be a signatory to the Letter supporting the UN Secretary-General, to the Permanent Mission of Chile in New York, which coordinated the Joint Letter”.
The ministry statement follows reports that Sri Lanka had originally not been a signatory to a letter signed by 105 countries condemning Israel’s decision to ban the UN chief from entering the country, raising concerns over Sri Lanka’s stance on Palestine and foreign policy under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
No explanation was given as to why Sri Lanka’s name was not included among the 105 signatories who signed the letter released last week, but the statement noted that Sri Lanka has continued its long-standing and unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and has expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people throughout the years. “Sri Lanka has voiced serious concerns regarding the current dire humanitarian situation in Gaza at multiple multilateral fora and supported the call for an immediate ceasefire,” it added.
The statement also noted Sri Lanka continues to support the mandated and essential humanitarian efforts of the United Nations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including consistent support to UNRWA and had strongly condemned the recent attack which affected UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, South Lebanon, which injured two Sri Lankan peacekeepers.
“Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath’s statement to the diplomatic corps in Colombo on October 14 highlighted the need to uphold the obligation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and the inviolability of UN premises at all times,” the ministry said, pointing out that Sri Lanka chairs the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, which was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2443 in 1968.
“Accordingly, Sri Lanka fully supports the letter which defended not just the Secretary General but the UN mandate itself,” the ministry added.
-ENCL
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