During the Leaders’ Forum of the 36 th session of the UNESCO General Conference held on 26 th October this year, Hon. Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Senior Minister for Scientific Affairs, made a statement based on the theme of the discussion “How does UNESCO contribute to building a culture of peace and to sustainable development”.
Speaking at a plenary addressed by President of Serbia Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya and First Lady of Dominican Republic Madam Margarita Cedeno De Fernandez among other dignitaries, Senior Minister Tissa Vitarana expressed the view that sustainable development remains a substantial challenge for developing countries, which are not in a situation of economic stability. Bringing to attention the fact that the global economic crisis currently affected rich counties, even more so than emerging states, Senior Minister Tissa Vitarana stated that the process of globalization should take place “on a level playing field.” He added that in the process of moving out of poverty, UNESCO holds a key role by which it should facilitate emerging countries to add value to their raw materials and be geared to compete with an existing market. In the effort to liberate countries from poverty, UNESCO must adopt a local, regional as well as global approach, thereby focusing simultaneously on individual countries and regional specificities.
The crux of the problem according to Senior Minister Vitarana is not so much the lack of education as slow-moving economic development. Making reference to the Sri Lankan experience, Senior Minister Tissa Vitarana explained that Sri Lanka holds a 94% literacy rate and a free education system with over 10,000 state-owned schools. However, youth unrest has arisen in Sri Lanka in the past, as youth aspirations remained unfulfilled. Science and Technology Minister pointed out that today, Sri Lanka has embraced fast progressing economic development through Nanotechnology, Biotechnology and electronics, diversifying its dependence on conventional garment export trade.
In answer to the question posed by the moderator Ms.Zeinab Badawi of the BBC on the matter of ethnic, religious and cultural diversity manifest within Sri Lankan society and measures taken to recognize the past of all people and steps towards reconciliation, Professor Tissa Vitarana said that in his experience of Chairman of All Party Representative Committee, all political parties in Sri Lanka are arriving at a broad consensus to solve the national problem. He added that the people of Sri Lanka live in harmony in spite of external and internal political forces, which have constantly made efforts to exploit their differences. These forces must be effectively countered, Minister Vitarana concluded.
The Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka and Chairperson of National Science Foundation, Professor Sirimali Fernando, were present at the Leader's Forum.
Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO
Paris
28th October 2011
