Ahead of the upcoming 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) scheduled to commence on Monday, Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha briefed the President of the UNHRC, Ambassador Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger on the decision of the Sri Lankan government to withdraw its co-sponsorship of resolution on ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’.

The Foreign Secretary who is presently in Geneva, informed the UNHRC President that the Cabinet of Ministers had on Wednesday approved this decision following a cabinet paper submitted by Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Colombo Gazette reported.

He also informed her that Minister Gunawardena will lead the Sri Lankan delegation to the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council, and will formally inform the Council Members on the Government’s decision when he addresses the High Level Segment of the Council, on Wednesday 26 February.

She was also informed by the Foreign Secretary that on the eve of the decision being taken by the Cabinet, the Ambassadors of the ‘core group’ that had moved the resolution, who were resident in Colombo (the UK, Germany and Canada), had also been briefed by Gunawardena.

Ambassador Tichy-Fisslberger appreciated Sri Lanka’s initiative to keep her briefed on the matter.