UN assures fullest support for Sri Lanka | Daily News
President meets UN Secretary General

UN assures fullest support for Sri Lanka

President invites Tamil Diaspora for a dialogue
Reiterates success of vaccination drive
Calls for greater vigilance against terrorism
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is attending the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Sunday(19). Picture courtesy President’s Media Division

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is attending the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Sunday(19). Picture courtesy President’s Media Division

United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has told President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that the UN will provide its fullest support to Sri Lanka in moving forward to promote unity among different communities. Secretary-General Guterres made these remarks during the meeting he held with President Rajapaksa at the United Nations Headquarters in New York yesterday.

President Rajapaksa briefed the UN Secretary-General on the challenges facing countries like Sri Lanka with a small economy in the face of the COVID pandemic.

President Rajapaksa spoke at length on the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on education and the economy of Sri Lanka and thanked the World Health Organization (WHO) for its support to overcome the pandemic. The President pointed out that more than half of the total population has been fully vaccinated and that all arrangements have been made to fully vaccinate all those over the age of 15 before the end of November. The Secretary-General commended the progress made by Sri Lanka in the vaccination drive.

The President pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic was a major obstacle to fulfilling the pledges made to the people when he became the President in 2019. Even amidst this situation, the President elaborated on the steps taken to address the issues arose in the aftermath of defeating terrorism that lasted for 30 years.

The President explained the compensation paid to the victims, the transfer of lands back to the owners and the massive development carried out in the North and East Provinces since 2009 under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the opportunity given to democratically elect the representatives to the Northern Provincial Council.

The President informed the Secretary-General that the Government would take immediate action with regard to missing persons and expedite the efforts such as issuance of death certificates. The President pointed out that many youths who were arrested as suspects over terrorist activities were released after he came to power. The President informed the Secretary-General that legal action would be expedited with regard to rest of the youth who could not be released, and that he would not hesitate to grant Presidential Pardons to the Tamil youth who have been in custody for a long time, taking into account their long-term detention and the completion of the legal process.

The President stated that his objective is to strengthen democracy in Sri Lanka and accordingly, there are no baton attacks or use of water cannons on protesters under his Government, and that a separate area has been set aside for protesters near his office. President Rajapaksa also explained the engagement with civil society organizations to bring about development and reconciliation in the country. President Rajapaksa said that he was always ready to work closely with the United Nations and added that though he could assure that there is no room for separatism to re-emerge in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka and other States should be vigilant about religious extremism.

Guterres warmly welcomed President Rajapaksa when he arrived at the United Nations Headquarters and reminisced about his visits to Sri Lanka in 1978 representing the Inter-Parliamentary Union and his visits to Kandy, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee. Guterres also recalled his dealings with Sri Lanka during his tenure as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and his meeting with then President and current Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2006. The Secretary-General noted that Sri Lanka, as a country which plays a more active role in social and economic spheres in the Indian Ocean region, would continue to do so in the future too, despite the crisis that has plagued it for nearly 30 years.

President Rajapaksa said that he was pleased to have the opportunity to hold bilateral discussions with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and congratulated him on leading the United Nations during a difficult period facing the world as well as on his re-election as the Secretary-General.


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