The Sri Lankan government has expressed its deep concern about the hardships faced by the Palestinians, at the 21st session of the Human Rights Council held in Geneva, Sri Lanka’s permanent mission in Geneva said.

Participating in the Session on 'Human Rights Situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories', Sri Lanka expressed its deep concern about the hardships faced by the Palestinian people. Noting that it had long advocated the recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Sri Lanka said it remains steadfast in its unequivocal support to the people and the Government of Palestine for their just struggle to achieve the right of statehood, coexisting peacefully alongside Israel. Sri Lanka urged the Government of Israel to lift the blockade placed on Gaza, within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1860, which has a devastating impact on the lives of the ordinary people of Palestine, especially the young. Sri Lanka also voiced its belief that the State of Palestine would soon be able to assume its rightful place among the community of states at the United Nations.

Participating in the General Debate on 'Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action' Sri Lanka renewed its commitment to the core principles of equality and non-discrimination embodied in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Sri Lanka noted that as a country which has emerged from a 30-year long terrorist conflict, it is acutely aware of the manner in which racial and other ideologies could be manipulated by extremist elements seeking to foster fascist ,separatist agendas and engender hatred and intolerance, which pose a threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States.