Sri Lanka calls for collective efforts to tackle global security threats

Sri Lanka yesterday (Sept 26) called on member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to collectively contribute to defending global security threats, stressing that it threatened the security of all nations and could not be tackled alone.

Addressing the Ministerial Meeting of NAM, Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Ariyasinha highlighted the importance of combatting all forms of "racism, hate, violent extremism" and modern threats such as those witnessed during the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement, that Ariyasinha had pointed out the need "to be conscious of the growing threat of hate speech and abuse of the internet and social media platforms".

Ariyasinghe had also likened climate change to a security threat to countries which are vulnerable to man-made disasters. He had also "expressed deep concern about the negative impacts of climate change, particularly on island nations such as Sri Lanka".

Further the Foreign Secretary had expressed hope that efforts to combat climate change as set out in the Paris agreement, would be strengthened at the upcoming COP25 Climate Change Conference in Chile later this year.

During the Ministerial Meeting, Sri Lanka had reaffirmed its committed to address current global challenges such as conflict, migration, climate change and communicable diseases, the Foreign Ministry said.

Mr. Ariyasinghe had also highlighted the importance of Bandung Principles established at the Asian - African Conference in 1955 on world peace and cooperation 

Some principles include political self-determination, mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, and equality.

The Ministerial Meeting had taken place on the sidelines of the 74^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.