Sri Lanka has looked after UN premises safety
The attention of the External Affairs Ministry has been drawn to the
statement made in New York on July 8 and attributable to the United
Nations Secretary General’s Spokesperson. The statement claims that Sri
Lankan authorities have failed to prevent the disruption of the normal
functioning of the United Nations Offices in Colombo.
The External Affairs Ministry wishes to categorically emphasize that
throughout the situation, the Government of Sri Lanka has looked after
the safety of the United Nations premises. The demonstrations taking
place outside have not resulted in harm to anyone. Access has continued
to be afforded to the premises, through the facilitation of the movement
of persons wishing to enter or exit.
Even as the measures necessary for the security and access to the
compound were being deployed, the Government through the proper channels
gave the United Nations in New York very explicit and emphatic
assurances.
Moreover, the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator in Colombo was
kept appraised of the efforts of the Government to ease the situation,
while acting within the parameters of a democratic system wherein the
right to peaceful demonstration remains a fundamental entitlement. Given
the above context, the External Affairs Ministry believes the decision
to close the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo which at present serves to
address a range of issues relevant to 34 nations of the Asia-pacific
Region, to be disappointing.
At the same time, the Government of Sri Lanka is committed to
dialogue as the way forward, as the avenue for the resolution of issues
of this kind. The External Affairs Ministry wishes therefore to reaffirm
its intent to continue to be engaged with the United Nations system. |