President in New York to address UNGA tomorrow

President Maithripala Sirisena is scheduled to address the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the fourth consecutive time. He arrived at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York yesterdy. He was received by Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr Rohan Perera and officials of the Mission.

The President, who arrived in an Emirates flight, was ceremoniously driven to the Lowes Regency Hotel in New York. Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Champika Ranawaka and Mano Ganeshan accompanied the President. Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana arrived in New York yesterday.

This year’s theme of the UNGA Session is, “Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies.”

On September 24, President Sirisena will be one of the prominent speakers at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, the most important global peace event organized on the sidelines of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. This event has been organized to mark Mandela’s birth centenary. The Summit  is scheduled to adopt the Nelson Mandela Political Declaration.

The President will also take part in a special session to discuss then issues pertaining to the drug menace. On Sept. 26, the UNGA will also hold a high-level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis, as agreed by member states in February.

On Sept. 27, the UN will hold a one-day comprehensive review of the progress achieved in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs),

which will be the third high-level meeting of the UNGA on the issue and President Sirisena will be one of the Heads of States attending this even organized by the World Health Organization.

During the visit an agreement is to be signed between the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) and Sri Lanka. President Sirisena will also have meetings with the United Nations Secretary General and Commonwealth Secretary General.