Sri Lanka abstained from voting as the United Nations General Assembly approved a four-year extension of the term of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
The resolution, adopted despite opposition from several countries, including the United States and Russia, extends Türk’s tenure from 12 October 2026 to 11 October 2030.
The resolution was approved with 144 votes in favour and 10 against, while 13 countries, including Sri Lanka, abstained.
The United States had urged member states to vote against the reappointment, while Russia argued that the High Commissioner and his office had demonstrated political bias in favour of Western geopolitical interests.
Sri Lanka’s decision to abstain was based on its longstanding position regarding resolutions and international investigative mechanisms concerning the country adopted through the United Nations Human Rights Council and its related bodies.
