United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from June 23 to 26, marking the first official visit by a UN Human Rights Chief to the country since February 2016.
During his visit, High Commissioner Türk will meet with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime MinisterDinesh Gunawardena. He will also hold discussions with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, as well as other Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior government officials, and religious and civil society leaders. Engagements with the diplomatic community and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lankaare also scheduled.
As part of his itinerary, Türk will travel to Kandy to pay respects at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and meet with the Chief Prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters.
He will also visit Jaffna and Trincomalee, where he is expected to meet with the Governors of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
The visit aims to further strengthen efforts related to the promotion and protection of human rights and national reconciliation, aligning with Sri Lanka’s ongoing constructive engagement with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).