Presidential Secretariat refutes Sunday Times column on UNHRC sessions

The Presidential Secretariat is greatly disturbed to see the Political Column of the Sunday Times of 24 February 2013 making references to the forthcoming UNHRC sessions in Geneva and trying to sully the reputation and cast aspersions on the professional conduct of our Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha, the President’s Spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said.

He added: It is the view of His Excellency the President that both international and local entities are exploring all avenues of dragging Sri Lanka into disrepute in the run up to the Council sessions and thus placing our country in an awkward and embarrassing position bringing in unfounded allegations notwithstanding the enormous work accomplished in reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation.

De-motivating and insulting our PR and his staff in Geneva is also one such malicious activity aimed towards dragging Sri Lanka into disrepute. the Presidential Secretariat asserts that what has been said in this column about our PR in Geneva has no basis and is a complete misrepresentation of what actually transpired.

The Presidential Secretariat further refutes these ‘allegations’ and hereby conveys the full confidence placed in the professional capacity and capability of our PR in Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha and his staff to handle the forthcoming events and activities of the UNHRC sessions in Geneva in March this year and ably assist Minister of Plantation Industries Mahinda Samarasinghe who has been tasked to lead the delegation to the Council sessions.