Educational revolution: Sri Lanka Model United Nations
View(s):Encouraging diplomacy, professionalism and acceptance SLMUN tackles international relations with creativity and new ideas
By Duvindi Illankoon
Six months of extensive preparation, one month of practice sessions and three days of intense debate and resolution; in its sixth year of proceedings, the organisers of the Sri Lanka Model United Nations conference have found themselves thick in the midst of mayhem. The mad rush will certainly be worth it; from August 5- 7, 2013 over a thousand local and international students will gather at the Water’s Edge for the annual conference.
Sri Lanka Model United Nations (SLMUN) is a platform for young adults from across the country to engage in discussion and debate about the world’s most pressing issues.At a SAARC Conference in 2005, the idea for such a simulation was conceptualised by R.L. Ellawala, currently the Director for the National Youth Awards programme at the National Youth Services Council. Mr. Ellawala, also a teacher at Ananda College Colombo, recognised the need for an alternative to the standard debating platforms on offer for school students to polish up their speaking and educational skills. Inspired by the concept of Colombo Operated Model UN, a simulation SAARC was set up and in 2008 it expanded to become a Model United Nations (MUN) conference.
“The creation of a Model UN conference which appeals to the whole nation was one of the key objectives once SLMUN was initiated in 2008,” says Secretary General of SLMUN 2013 – Kemiya Kodithuwakku. The conference is endorsed by the Ministry of Education and registered with the UNESCO Outreach programme.
Model UN is generally defined as an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda. For the participants (or delegates, as they are known during conference), MUN is so much more. “It’s an opportunity for students to break free from the traditional mould of education,” says Under-Secretary General Hamza Alibhoy.
“SLMUN has always been about creativity and new ideas every year; giving participants from all across Sri Lanka and other parts of the world an opportunity to experience something new every time they walk into our conference.” MUN conferences around the world have changed lives since such simulations began in the 1920’s with the League of Nations. Today, almost a million school and university students participate in Model UN conferences every year. Over 500 conferences take place annually in countries around the world. Some of the most recognised MUN conferences include Harvard Model UN (with which SLMUN is registered), Johns Hopkins University Model UN (former SLMUN Secretary General Kithmina Hewage was Under-Secretary General of General Assemblies this year), and other Ivy League conferences.
The average conference is structured around the United Nations, offering simulations of the latter’s various functional organs. The General Assembly, Ecosoc and Security Council committees are a staple at any conference, while the other committees vary according to the decisions of the Executive Committee. For example last year’s SLMUN had both Historic and Futuristic Security Council committees in addition to the standard. The International Court of Justice features regularly at SLMUN, along with committees like the UNHRC and at least one regional body simulation.
“For this year’s conference, we hope to uphold a high standard of debate with maximum participation from all the delegates,” says Under-Secretary General Nayanathara Balapatabendi. “We want to debate controversial issues, delve deep and find the solutions. We want to open the eyes of the students, make them understand that the world is not perfect, but that we as the youth have the power to change that.” The Executive Committee, a body of 50 handpicked young individuals, is headed by a Secretariat consisting of Secretary General Kemiya Kodithuwakku, Deputy Secretary General Sithira Gunasekara and six Under-Secretary Generals, Hamza Alibhoy, Shakya Wickramanayake, Chiranthi Senanayake, Jithen Silva, Nayanthara Balapatabendi and Hisham Samsudeen heading areas of finance, administration, logistics, and media.
The Secretariat in turn is headed by Chargé DAffaires Mr. Ellawala, the man behind the show. Together with their Executive Committee, they hope to deliver on a conference that has time and again revolutionised the concept of MUN. For example, in 2011 the One World Volunteers was brought into play. One World was set up as SLMUN’s community service initiative-initially meant to be for five days, the volunteer programme expanded to include over a 700 volunteers in its database and has over a million rupees of fundraising under its belt. This year SLMUN also introduces a partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards programme, with delegates being offered the opportunity to qualify for the prestigious award through SLMUN.
Visit www.slmun.org for more details on registration.
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