Sri Lanka urges UN Human Rights Council to end country-specific mandates after progress

Sri Lanka has urged UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk to support the conclusion of country-specific human rights mandates when countries show measurable progress through national processes, dialogue and cooperation.

Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake, made the appeal while addressing the 63rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 8, 2026.

He spoke during the General Debate under Agenda Item 2, which was attended by UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk. A written update on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka was also presented to the Council on the same day.

Ambassador Dassanayake said no mandate of the Human Rights Council should be treated as indefinite.

He noted that the international community is facing serious and urgent human rights challenges, including armed conflicts, displacement and humanitarian crises. Against this background, he said the Council should ensure that its work and resources are directed towards the most pressing global human rights concerns.

The Sri Lankan representative said all mandates, particularly those focused on individual countries, should be reviewed periodically against clearly defined objectives and measurable outcomes.

He also called for sunset clauses and phase-out provisions to be included in country-specific resolutions where appropriate.

Ambassador Dassanayake said that when a country demonstrates progress through national processes, dialogue, cooperation and technical assistance, the Council should provide a credible pathway to bring the relevant mandate to an end.

During the General Debate, several like-minded countries also expressed views commending Sri Lanka’s progress in protecting and promoting the human rights of all Sri Lankans.