Sri Lanka, 2012

On behalf of the Government

of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, I

congratulate Vuk Jeremić on his election as President

of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session. His proven skills and charming personality leave no

room for doubt that under his able leadership we will

achieve our goals for this session. Sri Lanka is also

pleased to endorse the theme proposed by him for this

year’s high-level debate.

For 67 years, the United Nations has provided the

premier forum for the resolution of international disputes

and the negotiation of landmark global goals. In the

conduct of international relations, Sri Lanka, a founding

member of the Non-Aligned Movement, firmly upholds

the tenets of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect

for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,

non-interference in the internal affairs of other States,

equality and mutual benefit. Sri Lanka believes that,

in the settlement of international disputes, action must

be based on the fundamental principle of the sovereign

equality of States, a principle firmly enshrined in the

Charter of the United Nations. The noticeable recent

tendency to selectively and arbitrarily intervene in the

internal affairs of States f lies in the face of this principle

and dilutes the confidence so carefully nurtured in the

United Nations system.

The global financial crisis has posed a major

challenge to the entire international community. In

this context, it is of the greatest importance to ensure

that any strategies employed to achieve recovery do not

impose unjustifiable burdens on developing countries,

as they strive to achieve better living conditions for

their people. A recovery that does not simultaneously

uplift developing countries will be, by its very nature,

unsustainable. It is paradoxical that the very countries

in which the financial crisis originated now seek to

provide policy prescriptions for others.

It has been noted that many countries of the South

have weathered the financial storm successfully. Sri

Lanka’s economy, which has been carefully managed

during this period, is one of the Asian economies

that has recorded impressive gains by any standard.

A growth rate of 8.2 per cent was achieved in 2011.

Following the end of the conflict in 2009, the areas

formerly controlled by terrorists, namely the northern

province, recorded a 27 per cent growth in gross

domestic product in 2011. The exponential boom in

agriculture and fisheries in particular has contributed

substantially to this result.

We are now at a significant juncture in human

history, as climate change looms as the greatest

challenge to the very existence of humanity. Many

developing countries, including my own, are still struggling to regain lost opportunities and improve the

livelihood of their people while staring global warming

in the face. Our carbon footprint remains negligible.

It is imperative that the developed world deliver on its

solemn undertakings to assist developing countries, as

we seek the common goal of arresting climate change,

which is caused by human activities.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable

Development (Rio+20), held in June 2012, demonstrated

convincingly the efficacy of United Nations processes.

The potential of the green economy, however, will be

less attractive if we do not clearly understand its long-

term consequences at the national level for sustainable

economic strategies. The transition to a green economy

must not generate negative externalities that retard

economic growth and perpetuate societal inequity

and poverty. Assistance to developing countries under

North-South development cooperation mechanisms

must take into account global initiatives to mitigate

the adverse consequences of too rigid an application of

green economic principles. The efforts of developing

countries themselves in this regard must be recognized

and further facilitated.

As Member States, we must respect the principles

patiently negotiated by the international community.

These are, in particular, the equality of rights,

the equal sovereignty of all States and the right to

development, as underlined in the Rio+20 outcome

document (resolution 66/288, annex). The interests of

the developing world must be entrenched and protected.

Hence, no constraining conditions should be applied to

development models or approaches adopted by Member

States that could prevent the achievement of sustainable

development together with the eradication of poverty.

The middle-income countries are the main driving

force for strengthening our global economy. Sri Lanka’s

balanced socioeconomic policy strategies propelled

us to middle-income status a few years ago. As we

have repeatedly emphasized, countries’ attainment

of middle-income status does not by itself provide a

solution to the issue of poverty and other development

challenges.

I wish to mention in particular that Sri Lanka

employs a unique development strategy that empowers

citizens, with special attention to social development

needs. It has continued to achieve transformational

change in the lives of its people by effectively

mobilizing available resources and delivering

sustainable and citizen-centred programmes. Sri Lanka has emphasized synergistic interactions between health

care and education, public infrastructure development,

including improved water and sanitation, transport

and communications, especially under an integrated

regional development approach, which we consider to

be important. We also enjoy a 98 per cent literacy rate,

with the score for girls being even higher. The success

of this strategy is reflected in Sri Lanka’s high ranking

on the human development index, of which we are

legitimately proud.

Sri Lanka has achieved many of the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs) and is well on track to

realize all of them by 2015, including the eradication

of poverty. Eradicating poverty and improving the

quality of life of our people has been the cornerstone

of social development policies in Sri Lanka over

many decades. Sri Lanka’s key policy document,

“Mahinda Chintana —Vision for the Future”, has set

specific targets to combat poverty within the MDG

framework. A range of projects has been designed

for the eradication of poverty by 2016. Through the

Gama Naguma and Divi Naguma programmes, which

deal with village awakening and the enhancement of

livelihoods and incomes, we have been addressing

rural poverty eradication and ensuring food security.

These programmes continue to promote the concept

of self-employment, directing financial and technical

assistance to youth and women in rural areas, including

those who suffered from the terrorist conflict.

The contribution of women in Sri Lanka’s

successful realization of most of the MDGs is of great

significance. Women who are literate also encourage

their children to focus on education and aspire to higher

goals. It is through the participation of women that Sri

Lanka has been recognized for its achievements in the

World Health Organization breastfeeding promotion

and immunization programmes. I note with great pride

that Sri Lanka produced the first elected woman Prime

Minister in the world in 1960.

We have made genuine efforts to ensure that the

fruits of economic development are equally distributed

and are accessible, especially to the most vulnerable

segments of society. We have ensured that social

mobility is not confined to the privileged in the towns

and cities of the island, but penetrates deep into the

rural hinterland.

Three years ago, our Government ended the

terrorist challenge largely through its own efforts. Sri Lanka is firmly committed to redressing the grievances

of all parties affected by the internal conflict. After

the release of the report of the Lessons Learnt and

Reconciliation Commission, a local mechanism set in

place by the President of Sri Lanka, an action plan to

give expeditious effect to its recommendations was

adopted. A comprehensive national action plan for

human rights with specific timelines has been approved

by the Cabinet of Ministers. The Government has also

proposed a transparent and democratic process under a

parliamentary select committee to address post-conflict

reconciliation issues. That initiative has, regrettably,

been delayed by the failure of some opposition parties

to nominate their representatives.

Sri Lanka exemplifies the challenges faced by

a society emerging from the shadow of a sustained

conflict that spanned three decades; the country is now

entering an era of peace and tranquillity. The gradual

diminution of the challenges and the brevity of the

period that has elapsed since the end of the conflict

leave no room for doubt as to the degree of success

achieved by the Government of Sri Lanka with respect

to a wide range of issues relating to development and

reconciliation. It has only been about three years since

the conflict ended.

Prioritization was a central feature of the

Government’s plan of action. The progress on the

ground during the last three years with regard to

the resettlement of internally displaced persons; the

reintegration into society of thousands of ex-combatants

after exposure to programmes of livelihood skills

training, which equipped them to earn their living with

dignity and independence; the rapid completion of the

mine-clearance process; and the unprecedented focus

on infrastructure development leading to very visible

invigoration of the economy of the island as a whole,

and the Northern province in particular, are quite

apparent.

The experience of Sri Lanka demonstrates that,

with the dynamic leadership of high quality and the

unwavering commitment that President Mahinda

Rajapaksa has provided, along with an effective

political and military strategy and strong rapport with

all sections of the public, it is possible to prevail against

the most ruthless forces of terror. No one has a greater

commitment to reconciliation in an all-inclusive spirit

than our Government. Unhelpful external pressures

that support narrow partisan interests could easily

derail initiatives that have produced very substantial results and peace on the ground, as we begin a new and

exciting chapter in our country’s history.

In the international community’s quest to bring

some semblance of equity to economic development

across the continents, we must maintain increased focus

on the continent of Africa, especially through South-

South cooperation. Sri Lanka is vigorously expanding

its engagement with the region, especially in matters

relating to trade, investment, tourism and technical

assistance.

All of our current endeavours should have a stronger

focus on children and youth, who are the custodians of

our future.

We have continuously supported resolution 66/6 and

the need to end the unjust economic, commercial and

financial embargo against Cuba. Unilateral sanctions

of that nature, which harm ordinary people, have no

place in modern international intercourse.

Terrorism remains a scourge in the contemporary

world, threatens our societies and impedes the

socioeconomic progress of our people. As a country

that has emerged from ruthless and brutal terrorism, Sri

Lanka continues resolutely to support all multilateral

efforts to enhance peace and security and eliminate

all forms of terrorism, without discrimination. In our

collective quest to eradicate terrorism, the selective

application of principles and double standards must be

scrupulously avoided. Terrorism from whatever source

must be unequivocally condemned and countered.

It has been established that terrorism has developed

close links with transnational organized crime in the

form of cybercrime and identity theft, environment-

related crime, maritime piracy, the smuggling of

migrants and trafficking in persons and drugs.

Maritime piracy has emerged as a major threat to

international sea lanes and has added an additional

economic burden to global trade. Sri Lanka, which has

been a trading nation for centuries, eagerly supports

multinational efforts to counter that threat. But it must

be remembered that piracy originates on land and that

any solution to piracy must also address its causes and

developments on land.

The illicit transportation of migrants to greener

pastures overseas by criminal networks requires

our collective attention. Sri Lanka also continues to

cooperate closely in that regard with our bilateral

and multilateral partners. As a member of the Bali Process, we are committed to cooperation in capacity-

building, the exchange of best practices and law

enforcement cooperation. At the same time, we believe

in the necessity to share information in good faith,

acknowledging that action on the part of a variety of

Member States, with their various national interests, is

essential to counter the sophisticated human smuggling

rings.

One long-standing issue that weighs on the

conscience of the international community and which

needs our sustained collective attention is the restoration

of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Sri

Lanka fully supports the implementation of all relevant

United Nations resolutions on Palestine, which will

pave the way for the achievement of Statehood for

the Palestinian people and bring lasting peace to the

region. Sri Lanka fully supports Palestine in its efforts

to achieve full membership in the United Nations.

Sri Lanka unreservedly condemns the defamation

of all religions and religious leaders. While the right

to free speech is fundamental to our value system, that

right should not be abused in order to hurt the feelings

of the faithful, whether they be Buddhists, Muslims,

Christians, Hindus, Jews or followers of other faiths.

All available mechanisms must be employed to prevent

the defamation of all religions and the exploitation of

religious symbols for commercial purposes.

In conclusion, Sri Lanka is currently in the

process of making arrangements to host the World

Youth Conference in 2014. The primary objective

will be the strengthening of youth inclusion in

national decision-making processes in relation to the

development and implementation of the post-2015

development agenda. I cordially extend an open

invitation to all fellow Member States to join hands

with us to make that global event a success.