Sri Lanka has joined 105 countries in condemning Israel's decision to ban UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the UN, Mohan Peiris, said.
The Sri Lankan Permanent Mission in New York requested the Chilean mission, which sponsored the letter supporting Guterres, to add Sri Lanka's name to the list of signatories on 11 October. The Chilean mission confirmed that an updated version of the signatories would be released next week.
Former Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Imtiaz Bakeer Markar questioned why Sri Lanka was not initially among the original signatories that condemned Israel's action. Meanwhile, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya welcomed Sri Lanka's decision, stating on social media platform ‘X’ that the country's expression of solidarity with nations advocating for a rules-based world order was commendable. He emphasized that despite its criticisms, the UN remains central to maintaining global peace.
A coalition of over 100 UN member states and the African Union criticized Israel's decision on Friday, calling it a move that undermines the UN's mandate. The statement, signed by countries including Türkiye, condemned Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz's decision to declare Guterres "persona non grata." It warned that such a step could delay efforts to end hostilities in the Middle East and obstruct the path towards a two-state solution, where Palestine and Israel coexist peacefully, as outlined in relevant UN resolutions.
The signatories expressed confidence in Guterres’ commitment to peace and international law, urging all parties to respect the UN's leadership and avoid actions that could weaken its conflict resolution role. Instead, they called for support of initiatives that promote a lasting solution to the Middle East crisis.
Israel’s decision to bar Guterres followed his call for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in the region. Israel criticized Guterres for not explicitly mentioning Iran or condemning Tehran’s alleged role in recent rocket attacks. Although Guterres condemned the escalation of violence and called for an immediate ceasefire, he did not directly address Iran's involvement.
