An important milestone for Lanka

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's address to the UN General Assembly can be considered a major milestone for Sri Lanka in more ways than one.

One of the most significant aspects of the speech was that it delivered in Sinhala, one of the two vernacular languages in the island. The President, who described both Sinhala and Tamil as living languages spoken by millions, projected the true identity of Sri Lanka by addressing the Assembly in Sinhala. This is the norm rather than the exception at the UN, with most world leaders opting to speak in their own language.

He declared unequivocally that Sri Lanka was committed to a negotiated settlement through the All Party Representative Committee process. This can be seen as a fitting answer to internal and external forces who strive to portray a 'hawkish' image for the Government. In this context, the President's reassurance will allay any fears that the international community may have harboured.

He pointed out that the Government launched military operations only to exert pressure on terrorists to convince them that it will not be possible for them to obtain a military victory.

Many world leaders have endorsed the President's call for a swift conclusion to the anti-terrorism convention negotiations. This is indeed a timely suggestion as terrorism has become a global phenomenon, with terrorist groups actively cooperating with each other. As the President said, the UN must act now against all forms of terrorism without delaying the implementation of the legal framework.

'Human Rights' has become a buzzword in international circles and various powers are attempting to 'penalise' developing countries on the pretext of human rights. The President focused the attention of the General Assembly to this situation, stressing that human rights are too important to be used as a tool to victimise States for political advantage.

He pointed out that international action to facilitate compliance with human rights standards should be fair and even handed and that human rights have to be protected and advanced for their own sake, not for political gain.

This was a defining moment for Sri Lanka as no other leader has expressed this view so far at an international forum. On its part, Sri Lanka has taken cognizance of the concerns expressed by the international community on human rights and activated several mechanisms to further ensure human rights.

Another highlight of the President's address was the emphasis on the development of the newly liberated Eastern Province, for which he sought the assistance of the international community. He also reiterated the Government's commitment to democracy, assuring the international delegates that elections would be held there early next year.

Although it is generally believed that most developing States would not be able to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, Sri Lanka could prove to be an exception. In the words of the President, Sri Lanka has been able to achieve exceptional socio-economic indicators way ahead of those normally expected of a country in the lower middle income range.

There is a distinct possibility that Sri Lanka may surpass some of the MDGs by 2015. This is indeed good news for Sri Lankans the world over.

The President's emphasis on moulding a more efficient UN is bound to spark a wider debate on this issue. The UN must be more effectively managed and its work streamlined.

Its multitude of agencies, lack of coordination and in some cases inter-agency rivalry make it poorly placed to deliver the goods where they matter most - the developing world. Taking remedial steps in this regard must thus be a priority for the new Secretary General.