A glimpse of Sri Lanka Model United Nations 2018
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Under the central theme ‘Redefining Global Diplomacy’ the 11th Session of SLMUN was held from the 30th August to the 2nd of September at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. At this conference one would have witnessed the potential of many youngsters to be impactful journalist, inspirational speakers, businessmen and businesswomen, lawyers, and yes even politicians! The 3 days of conference gave the delegates a framework to improve their diplomatic and thinking skills and put them on a path of being solution based leaders regardless of background and age. What was truly remarkable was the discipline and maturity that was shown through young leaders. Through connecting the youth at the conference, SLMUN hopes to create a better tomorrow.
This year SLMUN partnered with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to promote the end violence campaign. Representatives of UNICEF showed the delegates the need to end bullying and ragging and any form of violence against children in school. This was a issue that many delegated related to and was particularly passionate about finding solutions. More than 600+ delegates committed to end any form of violence against children and schools and to keep talking it about it and find practical ways to solve this issue.
The success of the conference rested upon the competent shoulders of the Secretary General, Venuri Kalinga with the help of our Charge D’ Affairs Mr Rohan Ellawalla whose commitment to SLMUN is commendable as it’s not always the easiest of jobs to take care and guide a bunch of teenagers.It is safe to state that the conference would have been a less that what it was meant to be if not for Ms Kalinga and Mr Ellawallas constant guidance and direction. Ms Kalinga along with the Secretariat which comprised of Dimuth Fernando – USG of Administration, Alanna Gunasekara – USG of Conference protocol and committee affairs, Ashen Lowe – USG of Finance and Muqaddasa Wahid the USG of News and Media was responsible for upholding an even higher level of standard.
SLMUN is known for reaching out and spreading awareness about diplomacy throughout the country. As such, in the year 2018 they held workshops in Galle, Kandy, Gampaha, Kiribathgoda, Negombo as well as Colombo. Before the conference there were two practice debates held on the 11th and 18th of July at the Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology, Hyde Park, Sri Lanka and the main workshop was held at Ladies College,Colombo on the 5th of August. Moreover, SLMUN had two partners in the year 2018,they were UNICEF and UNESCO. The main sponsor of the conference was Port City and the print media sponsor was Wijeya Newspapers and the official youth magazine partner was the Chokolaate Magazine.
During the 3 days 8 committees were simulated, namely; General Assembly Plenary chaired by Shashindra Jayakody, Amasha Samarasinghe, Dasuni Jayawickrama and Vishwa Caldera; the United Nations Environmental Programme headed by Randula Abeyweera, Varuni Muthukutti and Manilka De Fonseka; Security Council chaired by Chalaka Wijenayake and Sanudi Battage; the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund chaired by Malaka Samarasinghe, Meleeza Rathnayake and Nuwani De Silva;the United Nations Human Rights Commission headed by Yasith Amarasinghe, Andrew Gooneratne and Kividi Koralage as Rapporteur;the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific headed by Ibrahim Bin Iqbal and Shaquille Balasooriya; the International Organization for Migration chaired by Shimar Ahamed, Sidrah Yooseph and Afra Azhar and the World Intellectual Property Organisation chaired by Roosindu Peris and Shaamil Shakeer.
In addition International Press Corps was simulated for the 4th year recording the highest number of delegates yet. The committee was headed by Amana Iflal who was Editor In Chief and Muqaddasa Wahid. The rest of the team consisted of Leon Abeykoon, Matthew Milhuisen, Bevan Perera, Shenali Perera, Anjalee Ranasinghe, Chethasi Kudagamage, Sasanka Meegamaarachchi, Kaif Sally and Jonathan Cruse. The annual magazine -’The MUNer’- was also published by the News and Media team for SLMUN 2018.
The Director of Logistics for the conference was Yuvin Premarathne while Chamoodi Gunarathna was his deputy. Tharuka Cruse was the Director of Public Relations, Shamin Fernando: Head of logistics, Sahan Dharmasena: Head of Operations, Giovanni Fernando: Head of Technical Affairs, Kishan Kumar: Head of IT and Design, Erron Ragell: Head of Admins, Dushan Wanigasinghe: Head of Outreach, Amasha Fernando: Head of Accounting and registration, Senuki Devangi: Deputy Head of Operations, Lankanath Gunawardhana: Head of Control Room, Yashodha Warnakula: Head of conference coordination and Shevan Mendis who was Head of Finance.
In conclusion , The conference has a whole can be summarized through the words of Barack Obama who says, “ in a world of complex threats, our security and our leadership depends on all elements of our power – including strong and principled diplomacy”. The delegates if anything learnt to solve issues of global importance in a diplomatic manner. SLMUN encouraged young minds from all over the country creating in them a need to find solutions and a burning desire to take small steps towards global peace and unity.
What people had to say about SLMUN 2018;
Venuri Kalinga(SG) – SLMUN 2018 was one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had. My Executive Committee,even though they were a bunch of highly strung teenagers, really handled themselves in a mature way so in that way it made my job so much easier. They made my experience as their Secretary General an experience I will never forget. I really wish all the best for everyone who will be involved in SLMUN 2019 and I hope you have the same experience and make the unforgettable memories that come with doing SLMUN.
Tharuka Cruse (Director of Public Relations)- For me SLMUN 2018 was an unforgettable experience. The people I’ve met, the friends I’ve made and the EXCO that became family by the end of it were all part of the experience that was SLMUN 2018. Being someone who does Public Relations means that you are constantly put in difficult situations that require problem solving and lots of thinking. Im grateful that I got to work with such an amazing team. And even doing PR was difficult but MUN taught me how handle these situations in the appropriate manner.
Leon Abeysinghe (News and Media) – “Being a part of the news and media team for the 11th session of the Sri Lanka Model United Nations was certainly an exhilarating experience I could not fathom into words. The short time that we were together felt like a lifetime of friendship. Being a part of this great team not only helped me see true leadership but also helped with my writing skills and most importantly it helped me find new friends and make new memories that I will cherish as a member of the great organization. Overall I should say that it was a privilege to be a part of this amazing team.”
Ronaldo Schokman (Administrative Staff 2018) – “Experience as an admin was basically 3 days adrenaline as most of the work is physical but it also brings it mental challenges but overall a sense of enjoyment resonates from being in committees and helping out with the logistics based work of conference. I really enjoyed being part of SLMUN 2018”
Ms Shannon Misso (Faculty Advisor for AIS)- “MUN is a great learning opportunity for children if they use it properly. Globalisation has made more children aware that this kind of skill is needed in the world currently”
Sasanka Meegamarachchi ( News and Media) - SLMUN has always succeed in adding an unforgettable set of memories in to my life.It’s not only the people that make it unforgettable , it’s also the number of qualities and values which adds up into your personality by managing to take up responsibilities and fulfilling them. If you take part in this, you won’t be just joining team ; you’ll be joining a family and we all know that family is forever.
Shashindra Jayakody( President of GAP) - Joining the EXCO of 2018 rather late was always going to be a challenge, but familiar faces from the 2017 Exco and approachable new faces more than welcomed me. With regards to debate; with a rather simple but intricate topic at GAP, delegates were thorough with relevant foreign policies which inferred the extent of their knowledge and prior effort submission. I thank Mr Ellawala and my colleagues who ran SLMUN 2018 for having provided such an opportunity for the emerging generation and I wish the next Exco the very best of luck for SLMUN 2019.
Jonathan Cruse (News and Media)-Writing for the News and Media has been an amazing experience. It not only gave me the opportunity to do something I love(writing) in greater capacity, it also gave me the opportunity to meet so many people and develop lifelong friendships and create some weird memories.
Amasha Fernando(Head of accounting and registration)- Being part of the Exco for SLMUN this year was a great opportunity to get to know and work with various individuals with different personalities, coming from different backgrounds. Yet all were with the common goal of _redefining global diplomacy_ , making this conference a great learning experience for all those who took part – our only way of giving back to the conference we learnt so much from, which also shaped our skills for better use. Working cooperatively with each other to pull of a successful event was a memorable journey. Working tightly on our budgets and managing 24 hours each day between other work as well as setting time aside for conference work was challenging. Getting to know what really goes behind the scenes and how every minute aspect of a successful conference is delegated among each exco member was interesting to know and be part of.
Suhithri Paranamanage( IPC delegate) – SLMUN 2018 was my first time as an IPC delegate.I was quite nervous at first but the guidance of the friendly editors and fellow delegates made it a memorable experience.Overall, the simulation of being a real journalist and working for a news agency was just fantastic!
Muqaddasa Wahid (USG of News and Media) Having been in the SLMUN ExCo for the past 2 years as a member of the News and Media Team, I can confidently say it was a very rewarding experience. News and Media Team on the outside looks to be a very chill, fun- loving and close knit team. Yes, we are chill, fun- loving and close knit but we are also a team that works very hard, keeping up to crazy deadlines handling many things at once; designing and editing the magazine, helping with the PR, handling the IPC being some of them. It’s certainly a fun and one-of-a-kind experience to be a part of the N & M, because we are a team that almost everyone in the ExCo is terrified of (we know their latest gossip and deepest darkest secrets- which we can choose to announce to the world…if they don’t listen to us * wink wink *). Team N and M is the annoying paparazzi but a team the ExCo cannot function without. Handling a bunch of enthusiastic, unique and committed young journalists (the IPC) and the bonds forged with them, that lasts beyond conference is one thing that sets Team N and M apart from the rest, because the bond between the IPC and News and Media is not the general delegate-chair bond but it is something unique.Being in charge of a team filled with dynamic, hard working and dedicated individuals in SLMUN 2018 is a memorable experience and one filled with amazing memories. News and Media is a team that cannot survive just by one individual’s work but rather, survives through dedicated team work.
Shaquille Balasooriya (Co President of ESCAP)- SLMUN 2018 was a brilliant conference with jaw dropping opening and closing ceremonies a dedicated executive committee, willing administrative staff and most importantly brilliant delegates. The conference proceedings went off perfectly with two great days of debate as well an informative and engaging UNICEF session.
As the President of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific I had the privilege to chair an engaged, innovative and solution based debate with delegates showing brilliant skill in balancing the economic and social aspect of the topic and merging this spheres to form practical creative solutions that would no doubt be useful if carried out in the real world.It was enjoyable to chair this committee as the overall participation of a large number of delegates in debate as well the brilliance of a certain few in representing their country on the topic led to an insightful and interesting committee.
Senuki Devangi( Deputy head of Operations)- Logistics team is more of a hard working and very United part in the SLMUN family.It was a very fun experience where you get to know a lot of people.It’s all about commitment and the best place to make friends.Our whole team was a very dedicated crew even though it was more like work hard and play harder ..
Last but not least, Logistics is the platform of SLMUN, if anyone’s joining to the exco it’s probably the best and the most fun crowd to work with..
Shenali Perera and Jonathan Cruse.