President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle  Obama pose for  a photo during a reception at the Natural History Museum in New York with H.E.Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Madam Rajapaksa,Sept.23,2010

 H.E.Dr. Palitha Kohona ,High Commissioner to Jamaica Presents credentials to the Governor General of Jamaica.  

H.E.Dr. Palitha Kohona ,High Commissioner to Jamaica with  Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica

Buddhist-Jewish Inter-Cultural Discussion & Community Gathering on our shared culture of kindness and tolerance
13th September 2010

The Sri Lanka Mission to the United Nations in New York along with the Jewish Children’s Museum of Brooklyn organized a Buddhist-Jewish inter-cultural discussion and community gathering on our shared culture of kindness and tolerance.  The gathering was attended by members of the Sri Lankan Buddhist clergy, Jewish Rabbis and members of the two communities. 

Speakers included the Most Ven. Kurunegoda Piyatissa Maha Nayaka Thero of the New York Buddhist Vihara, Ven. Heenbunne Konndagna Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Staten Island Temple, Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Dean of the Meaningful Life Center, Rabbi Yerachmiel Benjaminson, Executive Director of the Jewish Children’s Museum, Mr. Mendel Spalter, Director/Outreach Development of the Jewish Children’s Museum, Dr. Wije Kottachchi and His Excellency Dr. Palitha Kohona, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York.    Speakers touched upon the common themes of the two religions and the need for greater understanding and tolerance among all communities.  Before the beginning of the meeting all visitors were taken on a guided tour of the Museum which had been built with voluntary contributions exceeding 25 million Dollars.  All speakers agreed that this was a pioneering initiative and expressed the hope that the contacts that were established will be developed in the future. 

Please see the photos of Buddhist-Jewish Inter -Cultural Discussion & Community gathering

More photos of the event

Buddhist-Jewish Inter-Cultural Discussion & Community Gathering on our shared culture of kindness and tolerance
Address by Dr. Palitha T.B. Kohona, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
13th September 2010

Venerable Monks,
Distinguished Rabbis,
Ladies & Gentlemen,

A Reception was held in hohour of the delegation of Sri Lanka to the Sixty-Fifth Session of the UNGA

on Friday 24th September 2010 from 19.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs at the Empire Room,

Waldrof Astoria Hotel, 301 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022.

More photos of the Reception

Statement by H.E. Dr. Palitha Kohona
Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
At the Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the
Humanitarian Situation resulting from the floods in Pakistan
19th August, 2010

Mr. President,

My delegation wishes to express its appreciation to the President for initiating the Resolution on “Floods in Pakistan” which we have unanimously adopted and for convening this plenary meeting. We also thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Mr. Qureshi, for his presence at this meeting and for his detailed briefing. The updated information on the ground situation provided by the Secretary-General, including on the relief effort, is greatly appreciated.