Buhne seeks active stance against discrimination

Dulshani GUNAWARDENA

United Nations Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka Neil Buhne emphasized the essential need to take an active stand against discrimination in all forms to create a lasting peace.

Stating that the theme for this year, Embracing Diversity: End to Discrimination; was extremely appropriate in the present Sri Lankan context, Buhne noted that it was no easy task that Sri Lanka had at hand.

However expressing optimism for the future, he said that Sri Lanka had a massive supply of resources, but a firm stance against discrimination should be built to bring the country forward on the development track. Buhne made this statement at a seminar commemorating Human Rights Day 2009, organized jointly by the United Center Informations Office and the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday .

Quoting the UN Secretary General's Human Rights Day message, Buhne emphasized that abstract commitments were inadequate and called for all to confront inequality and intolerance wherever they are found.