Representative of Sri Lanka on the Executive Board and Education Minister Bandula Gunawardhana stressed the importance of UNESCO not limiting itself to a mere technical assistance provider but to instead transform itself into a catalytic institution which would be able to facilitate the sharing of best practices of member states, especially in the areas of disseminating digital education software with possible funding assistance for translation and printing of educational books and reading material.
He made these comments at the Plenary Debate of the 187th session of the Executive Board of UNESCO which opened in Paris on 27 th September 2011.
Minister Gunawardhana informed the Board of the National Action Plans on Education for Peace and Sustainable Development that Sri Lanka would be launching in the near future. He noted the importance of such a venture, given that Education for Sustainable Development is a global flagship programme of UNESCO and has global implications.
Referring to the proposed UNESCO Category 2 South Asian Centre for Teacher Development in Meepe, Sri Lanka, the Representative of Sri Lanka said that with the unanimous support received from all SAARC member states, it would be prudent for the forthcoming 36th session of the General Conference of UNESCO to accept the concept in principle, thereby ensuring an effective and timely recognition of such an institution which would benefit the entire SAARC region.
Reiterating the importance of UNESCO in the SAARC region, the Education Minister called for an improvement in the quality of education to prepare younger generations who would be empowered with 21 st century knowledge and skills. Calling for much needed support for developing countries, the Education Minister stressed the need for UNESCO to play a major role as a development partner.
Minister Gunawardhana also met with the Representative of India on the Executive Board, Dr. Karan Singh, the Acting Representative of China, Ambassador Shi Shuyun, the Representative of Pakistan, Dr. Attiya Innayatullah, the Representative of Japan, Ambassador Isao Kiso, the Representative of the Republic of Korea, Ambassador Jang Ki-won as well as the Ambassador of Aghanistan Mohamed Kacem Fazelly on the sidelines of the Executive Board sessions to discuss bilateral cooperation in education and to thank them for their support for the proposed South Asian Centre for Teacher Development to be set up in Sri Lanka.
The Education Minister was assisted in the talks by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Mr. Prithiviraj Perera, Secretary General, Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO and other members of the Sri Lanka Delegation to UNESCO.
Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO
Paris
29th September 2011
