SL studies about what it should do at UN General Assembly

Programme budget of US 2.8 million to implement UNHRC resolution

26 March 2021 01:56 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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The Foreign Ministry is currently in the process of studying what it should do at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly regarding the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) seeking an additional programme budget of US $ 2.8 million to implement the resolution on Sri Lanka, an official said yesterday.

The official said the Ministry would study the technicalities in the process and decide how it should respond to the situation.

The UNHRC has sought approval for such budgetary support at the 76th General Assembly to cover expenses required by the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to report on Sri Lanka’s situation as envisaged in the resolution.

The related cost has not been included in the programme budget for 2021 and 2022. The latest budgetary requirements’ that arose after the adoption of the resolution is to be brought to the attention of the General Asembkly.

Of the estimate, US $ 137,400 is sought for general operating expenses, US $ 130,000 for contractual services and US $ 41,200 for staff travel. Besides, US $ 75, 400 has been sought to be spent for meeting participants and witnesses.

The OHCHR is to appoint 12 investigators on Sri Lanka for the investigative and evidence-gathering mechanism. In seeking the approval for the programme budget, four trips have been proposed for staff members for fact finding, information collection and awareness rising.

Among the matters proposed to be carried out by the OHCHR are commissioning and analysis of satellite images and the establishment of an information evidence repository.

Pakistani Permanent Representative to UN in Geneva Khalil Hashmi who spoke before the vote on Sri Lanka said allocation of such a large amount of money raised serious concerns when the UNHRC was facing a liquidity crisis. (Kelum Bandara)

Comments - 8

Disillusioned Friday, 26 March 2021 02:14 AM

Hopefully the UN will supervise and check this very well. Hopefully this money will serve the real victims. Not like Unicef who are not aware that doctors in high risk areas of Colombo are allowed by law to give vaccine priority to young healthy family members in other districts. Sri Lanka is corrupt through and through

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Jude Friday, 26 March 2021 04:12 AM

UNHRC officials wants to make a living out of false accusations against SL !!

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jayt Friday, 26 March 2021 04:45 AM

there should be a global military movement. sri lanka have to sighn milatry agreement other countries like russia and china as well. there is no other choices

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Tom Friday, 26 March 2021 05:44 AM

Expose its politically conspired,it well focused on human rights of covid dead, but not focused at all rights of Easter victims and the possibility of repeating again

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Buddhist Friday, 26 March 2021 07:02 AM

New Mathematician Dinesh Gunewardena should not worry about UN Budget, the core countries which worked on the resolution will pay for the cost. He has to worry how to setup a mechanism so that in March 2022 when UN receives the first year report there are no new negative clauses added on to a new resolution.

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Bean Counter Friday, 26 March 2021 07:46 AM

It is NOT $2.8 billions. It is $2.8 millions. Very misleading. I keep seeing this without anyone at DM even correcting it.

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Sambo Friday, 26 March 2021 08:06 PM

When they can't foresee things before issuing a gazette notification do you think they have the brains to handle such sensitive issues.

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Senaka Friday, 26 March 2021 08:14 PM

Don't think you could do something like you do with court procedures.

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