[The Sunday Leader (SL)]

Sri Lanka says the principle of sovereign equality enshrined in the UN Charter must be maintained as international rules are made and implemented.

Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Dr. Palitha Kohona told the UN Security Council last week that the United Nations has a fundamental responsibility to maintain and strengthen international peace and security in conformity with the principles of justice and international law under the Charter.

“The principle of sovereign equality enshrined in the UN Charter which is intrinsic to the international rule of law must be maintained as international rules are made and implemented. It is a clear principle that Member States must respect, and which protects all States, especially the small and the weak. Equally important, is the maintenance of the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of Member States, especially in situations that do not pose a threat to international peace and security.  Specific circumstances may call for involvement which should be based on the agreement of all States. Unilateral and selective applications of international law principles must be avoided. Considering that the principles that are accepted as being part of the international Rule of Law took centuries to evolve, any temptation to expect them to dawn everywhere, with equal effect, at short notice must also be resisted,” the Sri Lankan Mission to the UN quoted Dr. Kohona as saying.

Kohona said that at a time when the world is facing ever increasing threats to international peace in the form of transnational organized crime, terrorism, piracy and climate degradation, it is fitting that the UN Security Council highlights the centrality of the Rule of Law.

“Increasingly, regional approaches have also played an important role in addressing the growing problem of transnational organized crime and terrorism which threaten international peace. This involves close cooperation and capacity building at both the national and regional levels. However, long-term solutions to transnational organized crime, terrorism, piracy, etc. will need to focus on the delivery of basic services by justice and security institutions,” he said.

Kohona said that Sri Lanka has always advocated the settlement of internal and international disputes by peaceful means and that negotiations and other peaceful means must be the first essential resort.

He added that Sri Lanka’s willingness to engage with the United Nations to promote the Rule of Law based on constructive, fair, non-selective and objective assessments remains undiminished.