Speaking at the United Nations Day event organised by the UN Association of Sri Lanka on Sunday 18 October 2015, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harsha de Silva, who was chief guest on the occasion, called on all students to become Ambassadors for Peace. The event which was held at the Bishops' College Auditorium was attended by a large number of students from schools across the island.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
22 October 2015
Speech of the Deputy Minister follows:-
Remarks by Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
at the UN Day 2015 Event organised by the UN Association of Sri Lanka
Sunday, 18 October 2015
President of the United Nations Association of Sri Lanka and members,
Excellencies,
Teachers and Students,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
It is a pleasure for me to join all of you here today. I bring you the best wishes of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Mangala Samaraweera who, unfortunately, could not be here due to other work responsibilities.
First of all, I congratulate the members of the United Nations Association of Sri Lanka for organising this event. Since way back in 1950, you and your predecessors have steered the work of this organisation with commitment.
As Sri Lanka marks her 60th year of membership in the United Nations, the UN Association of Sri Lanka marks its 65th year. You have done a remarkable service in this important journey. I am so happy to see how you have inspired all these young children to join and form UN study circles and take an active interest in the issues of the UN in which they too have an important stake.
You all know that this year is a special one for the world community. Members of the UN, private sector leaders, activists, artistes, citizens, the business community and all stakeholders came together in September, to adopt the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. Similarly, it is a special year for Sri Lanka in terms of foreign policy. As we join the world community in celebrating the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Organisation, we also celebrate the 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s membership in the United Nations. What is significant here is that these twin anniversaries coincide with Sri Lanka’s own renewed engagement with the United Nations, and its systems and procedures, as well as the international community at large, under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
As many of you would know, for much of Sri Lanka’s history since Independence, Sri Lanka was considered as an important member of the international community including in the UN.
Having joined the UN on 14 December 1955, Sri Lanka has contributed in many ways to the UN system including its norm setting process. Just 5 years after becoming a member, Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Many distinguished Sri Lankans have held important positions in the UN and its agencies.
Many Sri Lankans have also chaired important UN conferences such as the Conference on the Law of the Sea, the 1995 NPT Review Conference, and the Conference on the Illicit Trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapons. Sri Lanka has held the position of President of the General Assembly and Vice President of the International Court of Justice.
In 1971, Sri Lanka initiated the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace. In 1999, the UN General Assembly unanimously endorsed a resolution moved by Sri Lanka to mark Vesak as a UN Day of Observance. Sri Lanka was the country that proposed the first ever UN Special Session on Disarmament.
Our peacekeepers wearing the blue helmet, help the UN maintain peace around the world. And we are determined to do more in the coming years, as the President himself pledged on 28th September when he attended a Summit on Peace Operations in New York.
Today is your day to Celebrate. So without taking too much of your time, I would like to leave with you, a few thoughts.
-For long years, Sri Lanka has been playing an important role in the UN, abiding by the principles of the UN Charter and contributing to its work. Similarly, Sri Lanka has benefitted immensely from the work of the UN and its agencies.
-The last few years saw our country drift from its traditional position of engagement with the UN and the international community. It was an unfamiliar position for us and for the international community itself to deal with.
-Following the Presidential Election on January 8th, we have made a course correction. We have begun pursuing a path of constructive engagement with the UN and with our bilateral partners. The policies of the Government including the 100 Day Work Programme, as you know, are in line with the UN Charter principles. And, as the people of our country have so clearly demonstrated at two elections this year, in January and in August, the vision that the people of Sri Lanka have for their country is also in line with the Charter principles. They voted, as you know, for strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions, for reconciliation, for developing the country for everyone, for equality, for human rights and dignity for all, and against the politics of ethnic and religious division.
-Although the modern international system is based on the concept of sovereign states and borders that define them, we all know that we just have only one planet to call our home. The world, more than in any other era in history, is today interconnected. No one country, irrespective of size, can succeed on its own. In this context, it is a proven fact that:
(a) nations succeed when they pursue an inclusive peace and prosperity within their own countries, and work cooperatively with countries beyond their borders;
and
(b) that it is impossible to create all the jobs and produce all the food and commodities required, if we do not trade with each other, invest in each other’s economies, and share knowledge, expertise and technology. From eradicating poverty to dealing successfully with disease, stamping out pandemics, protecting the environment, dealing with climate change and pollution, and finding sources of clean energy, we need to work cooperatively with the international community, if we are to succeed in creating a prosperous nation that benefits all citizens.
-The Government, therefore, is determined to ensure that the peace that we have achieved through the eradication of terrorism is a durable peace which guarantees prosperity for all.
-For this purpose, we will work to ensure that democratic norms, good governance, rule of law, human rights and the universal values of equality, justice and freedom are upheld by fostering reconciliation between communities and securing a political settlement.
In this journey, the young people in Sri Lanka have an important role to play. You have seen the devastation of conflict. You have seen how conflict has held back our nation’s progress. The future that we create for ourselves must be one which unites our people.
The State does have a role to play. But the Government cannot do this alone. We need you, each of you, as students, to become an Ambassador for peace. Create understanding among communities, strive to learn each other’s languages to communicate better and work with personal commitment and conviction to build an inclusive multi-ethnic, multi-religious and prosperous Sri Lankan nation which would be an example to the world community.
Thank you.
