Sri Lanka Rejects UN Rights Chief’s Call for External Initiatives, Reaffirms Commitment to Domestic Solutions

Sri Lanka has firmly told the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that external interventions are unnecessary and counterproductive, stressing that such measures would only hinder ongoing national reconciliation efforts and risk polarising society.

The government’s remarks were made in a statement responding to the latest report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Rejecting the conclusions and recommendations in the report that called for greater international involvement, the Government of Sri Lanka asserted that it retains both the mandate and commitment to pursue a path that ensures peace, unity, and respect for diversity.

It emphasized that the country remains dedicated to building a society free of discrimination — whether based on race, religion, class, or caste — and will not allow space for the resurgence of racism or extremism.

The statement also highlighted Sri Lanka’s preference for domestic mechanisms, while inviting the understanding, encouragement, and support of the international community as the nation advances its own reconciliation processes.

By reinforcing its stance against external initiatives, Sri Lanka reiterated its belief that lasting solutions to post-conflict challenges must be driven from within, not imposed from outside.