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Lanka at United Nations: Fifty-year bond in a book
By Isuri Kaviratne
Want to know what Sri Lanka has been doing at the United Nations and what this august assembly has been doing in Sri Lanka for the past fifty years?
A book titled "Fifty Years of Sri Lanka at the UN" has the answers and much more.

The book, which will be officially released in July by the Foreign Ministry with United Nations assistance, not only contains important documents and photographs of historic importance, but also chronicles Sri Lanka's struggle to enter the world body, which succeeded the then defunct League of Nations in the aftermath of the Second World War.

The book has reproduced a letter from Sri Lanka's first Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake to the United Nations Secretary General, asking that Sri Lanka be admitted as a member. It also contains the first statement made by Senerat Gunawardena, the country's first permanent representative at the United Nations in New York, after Sri Lanka's admission on December 14, 1955.

Speeches delivered at UN General Assembly sessions by Sri Lankan leaders, including S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Ranasinghe Premadasa, Chandrika Bandaranaike, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar also add value to the book.

Foreign Ministry Deputy Director Sumedha Ekanayake, who supervised the publication of the book, says the book also has its academic value with articles written by well known personalities connected to the UN system. Jayantha Dhanapala, who served the UN as Under Secretary General for disarmament affairs, contributes an article on "The UN and Sri Lanka: Bonds of Mutual Trust and Mutual Benefit, while Ernest Corea, who served as Sri Lanka's envoy at the UN, has written an article titled 'In the beginning'.

New York-based UN expert and journalist Thalif Deen writes about Sri Lanka's achievements while Justice C.G. Weeramantry, who served the International Court of Justice as its Vice President shares his views on the global legal system.

Besides, Sri Lankan diplomats serving in New York, Geneva, Rome and Nairobi have also contributed articles to the book. "We want to show the general public what we have been doing at international level within the UN system," Mr. Ekanayake said, explaining the purpose of the publication..

Himali Arunathilake, Deputy Director of Public Communications at the Foreign Ministry, says the book is mainly divided into two sections. The first section deals with Sri Lanka's service to the UN, including its contribution to the UN peace keeping process while the other section deals with how the UN has contributed to the socio-economic development in Sri Lanka.

In addition to the articles, photographs too play an important role in the book. Photographs with historical value like the first group photo taken on December 14, 1955 after Sri Lanka got membership, and the hoisting of the Sri Lankan flag at the UN headquarters for the first time and Sri Lankan permanent members addressing the council too, add colour to the book. Ms. Arunathilake says that although the book is being published to mark Sri Lanka's 50th year at the UN, it will also be a research tool and information material for students and others who wants to know about Sri Lanka and the UN.

Mohan Samaranayake, Information Officer of the UN office in Colombo says the publication is mainly handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the UN office providing articles on each UN agency's contribution towards the socio-economic development in Sri Lanka.

UN Resident Representative Miguel Bermeo commenting on the book says:
"Looking at both Sri Lanka's involvement in the UN over five decades, and the UN's work in Sri Lanka since 1952 the book is an excellent initiative, chronicling the development of a strong and reciprocal relationship. We fully support this publication and look forward to continuing to work with the people of Sri Lanka towards the achievement of its development goals."