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The main focus of this meeting is to review and debate the progress in the Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the 26th Special Session of the UNGA in 2001, said Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando.

Speaking at the UN meeting on HIV/AIDS in New York, he thanked the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the Declaration.

"It is our task to identify problems and constraints and formulate recommendations to achieve further progress in implementing our commitments," Fernando said. He said: "The Global HIV/AIDS epidemic is no doubt one of the gravest challenges to human security.

HIV/AIDS not only threatens the very existence of humankind, the social fabric of communities and political stability of nations, but also seriously undermines nations' ability to pursue economic development.

"It may be recalled that the Millennium Declaration while highlighting the remarkable progress in science and technology and its contributions to economic and social development, has also identified new security threats and dangers such as Internal Armed Conflicts, Humanitarian Crisis, Transnational Crime, Human Trafficking, Environmental Degradation and emergence of epidemics such as HIV/AIDS.

"Transnational global challenges such as HIV/AIDS can only be addressed effectively through collective, integrated, long-term measures and strategies. The United Nations has a crucial role to play in this respect. It is widely recognised that AIDS is no longer a simple public health issue. Every section of society in affected areas has been adversely impacted by the epidemic in one way or the other. AIDS threatens to roll back decades of social progress and economic development and has become a full fledged development crisis.

A multi dimensional crisis such as this requires a multi sectoral response.

"Given the complex nature of this global crisis, we firmly believe the present initiative taken by the international community to address the core issues related to HIV/AIDS such as stigma and discrimination, building partnerships and mobilising financial resources, through government and public sector.

The joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) deserves our commendation for organising a series of regional consultations.

"The persistent shortage of financial, technical, and human resources, has been identified as one of the greatest obstacles to achieving the targets set out in the Declaration of Commitment.

In this respect, achieving the resource mobilisation targets envisaged in the Declaration would be indispensable in the campaign to eradicate the scourge of HIV/AIDS.

"The Government of Sri Lanka is fully committed to the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and has accorded the highest priority to achieve this goal by gearing up the health sector as well as other related Ministries, agencies and Civil Society.

The prevention of HIV/AIDS is a critical area that needs particular attention. The government of Sri Lanka has accordingly launched the National STD/AIDS Control Program (NSACP), under the Ministry of Health as the key government programme. "Further the Government of Sri Lanka has adopted a multi-sectoral approach to expand partnership, facilitate policy development and mobilise resources of the other key stakeholders.

These include education, labour, tourism, armed forces, law enforcement, justice, media and information.

"Despite the low prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka estimated at 0.07 per cent, there are a number of risk factors which could lead to the spread of infection to a wider population.

There is obviously a need for concerted action to enhance a awareness of the dangers of HIV/AIDS with particular focus on vulnerable groups such as migrant workers, internally displaced people, commercial sex workers etc.

A sustained effective campaign for prevention requires strengthening the partnerships between the Government of Sri Lanka and UN agencies, donors, NGOs and religious and private sector leaders. There is an urgent need to incorporate HIV/AIDS education to the work programme of all government agencies.

"HIV/AIDS respect no international borders. It does not discriminate by nationality, race, gender, or religion. Human behaviours and social conditions that spread the virus are present in all countries whether developed or developing. AIDS is a single fatal infectious disease, which adversely affects every one of us, creating a social crisis on a global scale. As mentioned in the Special Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in June 2001, let us be united through collaborative approach to address the 'Global Crisis through Global action'.

"In conclusion, I should like to reiterate the Sri Lanka government's commitment to pursue a truly multi sectoral response to prevent the current low prevalence of infection moving into the general population through affected groups with high risk behaviour. The government is also determined to continue to provide the necessary leadership in a sustained campaign against HIV/AIDS."

Despite the low prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka estimated at 0.07%, 4000 persons out of a population of 19 million persons there are a number of risk factors which could lead to the spread of infection to a wider population.

There is obviously a need for concerted action to enhance awareness of the dangers of HIV/AIDS with particular focus on vulnerable groups such as migrant workers, internally displaced people, commercial sex workers. A sustained effective campaign for prevention requires strengthening the partnership between the Government of Sri Lanka and UN agencies, donors, NGOs and religious and private sector leaders. There is an urgent need to incorporate HIV/AIDS education to the work programme of all government agencies.

We welcome very much the recent decision in the WTO, which paves the way for making available Anti-Retroviral Drugs accessible and affordable to millions of HIV/AIDS patients, particularly in the developing countries. This is an excellent example of what concerted international action can achieve.

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