A bomb has just been detonated at the Charles De Gaulle international airport, France. The death toll is mounting. The terrorists claim to have set up further electromagnetic pulse bombs around the world. A supernova missile is said to be on course for the USA. What does the delegate of USA have to say about the crisis?
We stride to the podium trying to contain our nervousness, adjust the microphone and look up at the 500 eager faces awaiting our response. There is tension mingled with anticipation as we make the all-important speeches.
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| The winning team |
This was the experience of the Sri Lankan representatives during the emergency situation topic at the 5th Session of the Sishya Model United Nations 2011, held in Chennai, India, where the Sri Lankan team walked away with the coveted Best Delegation award.
Held on September 22, 23 and 24, the Sishya Model United Nations, is a prototype of the real United Nations. It encompasses all of the committees and agendas followed by the UN and brings together the best debating minds from leading schools in India, the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka. Over 500 students expressed their opinions through the scope of the country they represented.
The main aspiration of each and every participant is to win the coveted Best Delegation award, and to add a touch of diplomacy along the way or possibly solve a crisis or two. “This was going to be my last Model United Nations and I wanted to make it count, do or die,” said Naveen Ratnayake, the energetic delegate of the Disarmament Committee.
This year the Sri Lankan delegation consisted of students from Wesley College, Royal College, Gateway College Colombo, Gateway College Kandy, Royal Institute and Belvoir College International- Naveen Ratnayake, Kaushal Ranpatabandige, Dulana Weerasinghe, Malin Rodrigo, Vithushan Vijayaratnam, Imaal Kumarage, Ashfaq Ashique, Iththisham Fahim, Nafeel Niyas, Sanjana Gayashan, Aabid Aman, Thushara Lankananda, Anfal Nilar, Irfan Fuad, Imfaz Iqbal, Sulaiman Thawoos, Shaeer Shuail and myself. We had to represent the nations of the USA, Japan and Slovakia, which meant that we had to make resolutions as these countries’ diplomats and stand by the nation’s foreign policy.
Three days of hectic debating ensued and the ultimate moment arrived when we were seated in the auditorium at the awards ceremony, waiting with bated breath to hear the results. “And the best delegation award goes to… The delegation of U-S-A.” We were ecstatic when we realised we had beaten some of the best Indian teams on their home soil.
We received 8 individual awards as well. Naveen Ratnayake, Kaushal Ranpatabandige, Dulana Weerasinghe, Malin Rodrigo, Vithushan Vijayaratnam, Imaal Kumarage, Ashfaq Ashique and I were adjudged as the best delegates and as having the best foreign policies of the respective committees.
“I’ve always wanted to win the best delegate award. True enough solving the issues at hand is the most important bit, but there is always that urge to become the best at it,” said Malin Rodrigo, the delegate of the Economic and Finance committee. “I’ve experienced what it is to win a Best Delegate award back at home, but winning at a foreign conference is the ultimate honour,” added Kaushal Ranpatabedige, the delegate of the Social and Cultural Committee.
Aswin Pushparaja, Chairperson of the Social Cultural and Humanitarian Committee of the General Assembly took good care of our delegation’s arrangements.
The enduring memory of our stay in Chennai, will be the spirit of brotherhood that we felt. From roaming the bustling streets of Chennai, to the intense debates at the conference, each and every one of us backed one another in true Sri Lankan spirit. Meanwhile we had to morph ourselves into true vegetarians over the five days purely because the people in this part of Chennai did not speak the word ‘meat’.
The time spent in India was memorable indeed; we managed to rough it out and return victorious. |
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