United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Prime Minister’s Office for high-level discussions on strengthening cooperation in human rights, governance, and reconciliation.
Welcoming the High Commissioner, Prime Minister Amarasuriya reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to engaging constructively with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). She highlighted that the recent political transition represents a major shift in Sri Lanka’s political culture, stemming from a historic, broad-based public mandate received across all communities.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister outlined the Government’s priorities under three central pillars:
- Alleviating rural poverty,
- Accelerating digital transformation, and
- Advancing legal, political, and institutional reforms necessary for lasting social change.
Dr. Amarasuriya emphasized the Government’s dedication to upholding the full range of human rights, including social, educational, health, and economic rights, and reiterated that reconciliation remains a core priority. She noted the strengthening of domestic mechanisms such as the Office for Missing Persons (OMP), Office for Reparations (OR), and the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) as key to achieving sustainable peace and justice.
High Commissioner Volker Turk commended Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with the UN and stressed the importance of sustained collaboration in advancing human rights, democratic values, and national reconciliation efforts.
Also present at the meeting were UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche and other UN officials. The Sri Lankan delegation included Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja, and senior officials from both the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
