Lanka: Pro-active role at UN

COLOMBO: Participating in the 62nd General Assembly sessions of the UN will be especially significant and beneficial for Sri Lanka in terms of strengthening its links with the UN and Member States, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said yesterday.

"Sri Lanka will play a pro-active role at the UN deliberations this year.

We will reiterate the Government's commitment to peace, human rights and development and highlight the need for the UN to give priority to people-related activities," Minister Bogollagama told a news conference.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will lead the Sri Lanka delegation to the annual sessions, which start in New York, USA on September 25, 2007. President Rajapaksa will address the General Assembly on the inaugural day.

Minister Bogollagama, who signed the final list of Lankan delegates which will be sent to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in the presence of the media, said the number of persons in the Lankan delegation would not exceed 36, including security personnel.

The Presidential delegation will comprise Minister Bogollagama, Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam.

Ministers Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, C.B. Ratnayake and T.B. Ekanayake will also be in the Sri Lankan delegation. Minister Champika Ranawaka will participate in the UN Summit on Climate Change on September 24, which President Rajapaksa will also attend.

The programme finalised for the President on the sidelines of the UNGA, will include meetings and interactions with several other Heads of State including President George Bush, as well as the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

The President will also address a media conference at the UN Headquarters on September 26, 2007. Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Ambassador Kariyawasam, will host a reception in honour of the President, where he will have an opportunity to interact with members of the Sri Lanka community in the Tristate area.

He will also visit the Buddhist Vihara in New York. The President will depart the United States via Los Angeles, where he will meet leading members of the Californian community and Sri Lankan expatriates.

Minister Bogollagama will attend a number of important Foreign Minister level meetings including SAARC, G77, Community of Democracies, Commonwealth, NAM Coordinating Bureau, G15 and ACD.

The Foreign Minister in furthering Sri Lanka's pro-active interaction with other states, will hold over 20 bilateral meetings with his counterparts and will also meet with Heads of UN agencies and high officials of the UN Secretariat, as well as leading NGOs.

First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa will attend a special programme arranged by the United Nations, including a luncheon hosted by the spouse of the US President, Laura Bush, and other events hosted by Madam Ban Soon-taek, spouse of the UN Secretary General. She will accompany the President at the welcome event hosted by US President George Bush and by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

The UN General Assembly sessions will continue until December, where many issues of global importance will be reviewed under six Committees. Sri Lanka will push for further development assistance to developing countries and to advance efforts to transform terrorists to democracy.