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UN’s role in SL ensures better living standards for its citizens: MS
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said Sri Lanka as a whole, is satisfied with the role played in the past by the United Nations (UN) body, as a development and humanitarian partner to address social, economic and cultural challenges, so that all citizens can enjoy a better standard of living.
President Maithripala Sirisena flips through the Coffee table book, 'Our UN. Apey UN. Engal UN' launched yesterday to commemorate the partnership between the Government and the UN . UN Resident Co-ordinator Subinay Nandy and Foreign Minister Mangala Samarweera are also in the picture. Pic by Indika Handuwala
“Our youths, especially schoolchildren should be educated on the various functions of the UN agencies and how they facilitate humanitarian activities in our country,” he said.
President Sirirsena was yesterday speaking at the UN’s 70th anniversary commemoration ceremony, which also marks 60 years since Sri Lanka became a Member State to the international body of States.
He said, even though there are many challenges lying ahead of Sri Lanka with regard to its economic development and lower, middle income crisis, the country will continue to implement the plans initiated to ensure a better future for the next generation.
“As a longstanding member of the UN organisation, we recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of our membership to her. As I highlighted at the UN General Assembly in New York, Sri Lanka is a nation that respects the principles and charters of the UN body and international conventions and treaties,” the President said.
President Sirisena said Sri Lanka is playing a diverse role at the UN. Sri Lankan citizens have contributed and continue to provide their humanitarian services to UN peacekeeping by deploying troops to several countries.
“We have produced three Under-Secretary Generals and a Vice Secretary General in the past,”
The President also remembered how the UN body was portrayed during the previous government with a protest against it by a then minister in front of its compound.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that in the recent past, the country had been following an ad hoc policy with regard to foreign relations.
“May be due to ignorance by some officials and politicians of the time, we have been having a very low profile with regard to our dealings with UN obligations.
We were like a group of beggars, trying to undercut each other and attempting to get some leadership within the group, which did not work. We toiled in vain towards this end, but we did not get anywhere,”
“You can’t just make a move like on a chessboard, it won’t work in foreign relations. We clashed with the global community and were almost heading for a crash.
This is why we have a mandate from January 8 to formulate a resolution acceptable to the UN system. We were able to present a recommendation more acceptable to the UN Secretariat and regain the recognition of all parties in the global system,” the Prime Minister said.
Resident Coordinator of UN in Sri Lanka, Subinay Nandy said it must be acknowledged that the Sri Lanka’s contribution to the UN and the global community for over six decades is impressive, with more than 1,000 Lankan peacekeeping troops serving around the world.
“Sustainable development is about an inclusive model of development that is capable of uplifting standards globally. Sri Lanka’s development priorities are reflected in the recent assembly.
The need for good governance to achieve sustainable development can never be overemphasised,” he said.