HE Dr Palitha Kohona

Sri Lankan Ambassador to China

In March 2021, the United Nations Humans Rights Council (UNHRC) passed Resolution 40/1 promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. The resolution gives the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate and collect evidence of human rights violations in the country. The Sri Lankan government has, however, unequivocally rejected the mandate. To discuss the rationale behind the rejection as well as the impact of the resolution on Sri Lanka and its foreign policy, Dr Chulanee Attanayake, Research Fellow at ISAS spoke to HE Dr Palitha Kohona, Sri Lankan ambassador to China and former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations.