For many it’s a passion that evolves into an ultimate dream, but for Jayathma Wickramanayake (21) and Aruthra Rajasingham (26), it was a calling. Being selected as the first Sri Lankan youth representatives for the 67th General Assembly Plenary of the United Nations, held in New York last month, was an experience worth their achievements. [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Braving the hurricanes of diplomacy and weather at the UN

By Shaveen Jeewandara
Jayathma Wickramanayake and Aruthra Rajasingham ensured that the voice of Sri Lankan youth was heard loud and clear at the 67th UNGA, held in New York just before Hurricane Sandy hit
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For many it’s a passion that evolves into an ultimate dream, but for Jayathma Wickramanayake (21) and Aruthra Rajasingham (26), it was a calling. Being selected as the first Sri Lankan youth representatives for the 67th General Assembly Plenary of the United Nations, held in New York last month, was an experience worth their achievements.

Aruthra

Arranged in collaboration with the National Youth Services Council (NYSC), this was an opportunity of a lifetime. The diplomatic duo were involved in the fields of international relations and community development since the beginning of their careers.

“This experience truly helped me fulfill my objective of developing into a prospective diplomat who has the ability to give back to the country,” says Jayathma, “The insight and devotion that youth like us could bring to the United Nations is impressive,”she adds.

Jayathma says that her motivation to apply for the youth delegate programme sprang from the value that she would gain out of it. “It was an opportunity for self-development and a pedestal to voice our opinions,” she said. At 21 years of age, she is a second year undergraduate at the University of Colombo, Faculty of Science following a BSc. degree in Biological Science.

Having represented Sri Lanka at the Rio +20, in June this year, she gained a magnificent foray in the world of internal relations. “I believe it’s essential that a country has role models and youth leaders who will walk beside the governors of the country, not in front of them and not behind them. We all need to take up the call of leadership for youth,” she says.

Aruthra, on the other hand is presently reading for a Masters degree in Development Practice at the University of Peradeniya. Her undergraduate research focused on the behavioural problems of children exposed to domestic violence, and an abstract of the study was presented at the World Conference on Social Work and Social Development in Stockholm, Sweden, in July. Her interests lie in pursuing a career in international development practice.

Recalling the journey, they tell us of the symbolic United Nations compound in New York where the conference proceedings unfurled. This included high level meetings with experts, officials of the UN, distinguished delegates from member countries and youth delegates.

“There were two highlights of the whole experience,” says Aruthra, “One was delivering the National Statement and the other was meeting the Secretary General himself.” Policy formation was an area of concern, where both girls felt they could chip in.

Jayathma

Ideas that were presented at the plenary will be taken into account at the formation of the National Youth Policy in the coming year. Delivering the National Statement, they touched on the pressing issues of youth unemployment, sexual and reproductive health concerns, inequity in distribution of resources, illegal immigrants and the rehabilitation of ex-combatants.

The two youth delegates also attended the opening debate of the Security Council, as members of the national delegation, headed by Dr. Palitha Kohona, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations.

Another area of concern was the youth delegate side event on ‘How to Incorporate Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in the Post 2015 Agenda’. Emphasising the fact that SRHR is not only about the right to abortion or contraception, but also the right of every woman to make informed and confident decisions. This includes the right to a life free of sexual violence, the right to health services and the right to education on these issues.




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