'Time for NAM to reignite founding leaders' creativity'

Disna MUDALIGE

The time has come for the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) to reignite the creativity of its founding leaders to adopt new strategies, objectives and relationships to suit the modern world context, said International Monetary Cooperation Senior Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama.

He was addressing a national commemorative event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NAM under the theme 'NAM- Half a Century of Achievement : Our Common Vision for the Future' at the BMICH yesterday. The event was co-hosted by the External Affairs Ministry and Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS).

Dr Amunugama commended the creativity and intellectuality of the founding leaders to conceive this movement which made a turning point of the modern world.

The minister observed that the balance of power has been gradually changing in the world. "Twenty years ago it was the western world which provided 60 percent of the global GDP. This has declined to 40 percent by now. It is the rest of the world that dominates the global GDP at present," he said. He pointed out that the political scenario, flow of currency, trading patterns and challenges of the world have been changing and countries like India, China and Egypt have come forward in many aspects. "This is a realization of dreams which were in the minds of founding leaders of the NAM. Taking these circumstances into consideration, the NAM should look at in a new light to plan for the future," Dr Amunugama said.

He also admired the adoption of Panchasheela policies as the core values of the NAM which upheld non-interference, territorial integrity and sovereignty. "This adoption paved way for an infusion of these concepts into the global dialogue," he said.

Acting External Affairs Minister Neomal Perera said that Sri Lanka has been an active and influential member of NAM and has contributed for many of its initiatives. NAM, which was founded in 1961 with 28 member states, comprises 120 member states.

A commemorative stamp and first day cover were also issued to mark the 50th anniversary.