Welcome to the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York

Home

FM says GOSL has a zero tolerance policy on child soldier recruitment

Friday, 15 August 2008 00:00
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has reiterated the Sri Lankan Government policy of zero tolerance towards child soldier recruitment at a meeting with the UN Under - Secretary General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy, who called on him at the Foreign Ministry today (15 August 2008).
Read more...

Colombo Declaration of the 15th SAARC Summit

Friday, 08 August 2008 00:00
The leaders of the SAARC countries concluded their Summit, held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) on 03rd August 2008. They adopted the Colombo Declaration focusing on combating terrorism, energy, environment, water resources, poverty alleviation energy, transport, science and technology and education.
Read more...

Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam calls on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Thursday, 17 July 2008 17:30
On the eve of his departure from New York, Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, was met by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 17 July. At the one-on-one meeting where several issues were discussed, the Secretary-General conveyed his personal best wishes to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his commitment to work with the Government of Sri Lanka for peace and prosperity in the country. (United Nations, New York. Photo - Jay Mandal/On Assignment)
Read more...

Building capabilities and capacities at all levels for timely humanitarian assistance, including disaster risk reduction

Wednesday, 16 July 2008 15:30
Statement by Sri Lanka Delegation at the Humanitarian Affairs Segment of the Substantive Session, Economic and Social Council United Nations on “Building capabilities and capacities at all levels for timely humanitarian assistance, including disaster risk reduction” - New York, 15-17 July 2008
Read more...

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva addresses the UN High-level Meeting on a Comprehensive Review of the progress achieved in realizing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, New York,10-11 June 2008

Wednesday, 11 June 2008 00:00
Let me convey greetings and best wishes from His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, for the success of this High-Level Meeting. The Special Session of the General Assembly in 2001 and High-level Meeting in 2006 provided an impetus to strengthen and accelerate HIV and AIDS control programs in a coherent and comprehensive manner. However, as the Secretary-General’s Report indicates, progress has been uneven. This, therefore, is an appropriate time to take stock as progress in combating HIV/AIDS is essential to ensure the achievement of other interrelated Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Read more...

Information Gateway to Eastern Revival Development Programme

Tuesday, 10 June 2008 00:00
The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) has decided to launch the www.neweast.lk website as the international information gateway to the Eastern Revival Programme that includes a wide spectrum of social outreach programmes such as resettlement of internally displaced people, landmine clearance, rehabilitation and awareness programmes as well as massive infrastructure development projects such as new road networks, bridges, ports, power plants, electricity distribution networks, hospitals, schools, and etc. The total budgeted investment for three years ending 2010 is Rs. 197,219 million (~US$ 1840 million). Therefore, this programme will open up an unprecedented volume of opportunities for investors to move to the geographically strategic Eastern province of Sri Lanka. Under the Eastern Revival Programme, investors will enjoy up to 20 years of TAX holidays, lands under special concessionary schemes, and a wide range of other benefits. Investors, volunteers, and other non-Government partners can submit their proposals and ideas through a very convenient on-line form available on the above website. These proposals will be evaluated by a professional panel comprising of experts from the Eastern University and other universities in Sri Lanka. Therefore, we guarantee that your proposals and ideas will be treated professionally and speedy action will be taken to materialize those selected ones based on their merit.
Read more...

Ambassador H.M.G.S. Palihakkara takes over Head of Mission of Sri Lanka’s UN Representation in New York

Monday, 04 August 2008 00:00
Former Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka, Ambassador Palihakkara, has arrived in New York, succeeding Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam as the new Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations. He will formally assume duties after presenting credential to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon later this month. Ambassador Kariyawasam is now back in the Ministry holding a senior position as Additional Foreign Secretary.
Read more...

Security Council Debate on Children and Armed Conflict - Statement by Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations

Thursday, 17 July 2008 13:39
Let me thank you, Mr. President, for convening this debate. Sri Lanka is particularly pleased to take the floor on this important issue under the guidance of the delegation of Vietnam. This meeting provides an opportunity to refocus our efforts in addressing the scourge of recruitment and use of child combatants. The reports of the Secretary-General on specific situations, as well as his Annual Report, S/2007/757 are informative and illustrative in this regard.
Read more...

Agenda Item 9 (a): International Cooperation, assistance and national capacity building i.e. Technical and Financial assistance and national capacity building

Friday, 18 July 2008 00:00
Statement by Mr. W.W.Gamage, Additional Secretary-Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka at the 2008 Third Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradication the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects 14th – 18th July, 2008
Read more...

UN Food Summit : Sri Lanka moots Global Food Crisis Fund - “No food land for biofuels” - President Rajapaksa

Tuesday, 03 June 2008 00:00

“I strongly commend to the world leaders gathered here to seriously consider the setting up of a Global Food Crisis Fund that will have contributions from all countries and from large business organizations that transcend geographical boundaries, and from financial institutions, arms manufacturers and philanthropists of the world, among others. The mechanics of such a fund will have to be worked out in keeping with the goal of assisting countries faced with serious dangers to food security and also in funding initiatives for greater food production,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the UN Food Summit in Rome today (03).

He said that in addition to such a Global Food Crisis Fund, or working together with it, there should be Regional Food Security Funds drawing the financial and technology resources within a region to expand food production, improve storage and distribution and also come to the assistance of regional neighbours that may need help in the event of a food crisis as we see emerging today.

Commenting on the threat to food security from biofuels, President Rajapaksa emphasized that “in the prevailing competition between food and fuel, Sri Lanka is firm in the decision that no land that can be used for food will be used for bio-fuel whatever the commercial attraction may be. It is our belief that food for the people should have the highest priority, and not the running of gas-guzzling vehicles.”