President leaves for World Summit

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on Monday left the island to attend the 2005 World Summit and the 60th session of the UN General Assembly at the New York Headquarters of the United Nations.

The September 14 to 16 World Summit, expected to be attended by 170 Heads of State and Governments, is the largest gathering of World leaders in history, the President's Media Unit said.

President Kumaratunga will make a statement at the High Level Plenary Meeting on Thursday and is scheduled to address the 60th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 17, the first day of the Assembly.

Several bilateral meetings with world leaders and a press conference at the UN Headquarters have been planned during her stay in New York.