Leading a high-level Sri Lankan Parliamentary delegation to the 135^th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) being held from 23-27 October 2016 in Geneva, Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka addressed the General Debate this morning (25 October 2016). The theme of this year’s debate was ‘Human Rights abuses as precursors of conflict: Parliaments as early responders.’ 

Sri Lanka delegation included Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva, M.P., Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Hon. Vijitha Herath, M.P., Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijeratne, M.P., Hon. Velu Kumar, M.P. and Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake, Secretary-General of Parliament. 

Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya, Deputy Permanent Representative and Ms. Sashika Somaratne, Counsellor were associated with the delegation. 

The full text of the Statement delivered by Hon. Speaker is attached.

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka

Geneva 

25 October 2016