Sri Lanka, 1994

First, let me offer you,

on behalf of the Government and people of Sri Lanka,

warm congratulations to the President on his election to the

presidency of the General Assembly at its forty-ninth

session. We wish him an eminently successful tenure of

that high office.

Sri Lanka would also wish to express its gratitude to

Ambassador Samuel Insanally of Guyana for his

exceptionally creative conduct of the work of the crucial

forty-eighth session. Our good wishes extend also to His

Excellency Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Secretary-General

of this Organization, who must contend with increasingly

challenging tasks at a time when the United Nations is

undergoing major transformation.

In Sri Lanka, the winds of change are blowing. In

our country, we stand on the threshold of a new era of

tolerance and peace, ending dissension. In August this

year, the Peoples’ Alliance was voted into office, after 17

years in opposition, in a parliamentary general election

that was internationally acclaimed as both free and fair.

At this election - Sri Lanka’s ninth since independence -

the people voted overwhelmingly, reaffirming their faith

in parliamentary democracy, in fundamental freedoms and

in the rule of law. Of the registered electorate, 76.2 per

cent cast their vote, thus maintaining Sri Lanka’s long

tradition of high political consciousness and model

election procedures.

What happened on 16 August in my country was

more than the routine exercise of the ballot to change a

government. In an election atmosphere in which

conflicting views were given full rein, the Sri Lanka voter

remained mature, calm and solidly entrenched in our

cultural and democratic values. The result of the poll was

therefore a victory for moderation, tolerance and unity.

In my first speech one month ago in our newly elected

Parliament, I, as a representative of the minority Tamil

community, made a statement that I shall now repeat

here, in this supreme parliament of the peoples of the

world:

"Let it never be said, if it could ever have been said,

that the Sinhala people are racists. They are not.

They are absolutely not, and I think this election has

demonstrated so handsomely that that particular

argument can be laid to rest for ever."

Under the leadership of the new Prime Minister,

Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, a peaceful

transition of power has been effected, defying the cynical

predictions of some. Our nation’s rich and diverse

cultural heritage, steeped in the great religions of the

world and buttressed by a unique foundation of five legal

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systems, has made this triumph of democratic expression

possible.

Sri Lanka’s new Government reflects the multi-ethnic,

multi-religious fabric of its society. In Parliament, the

Government has the support of a number of political

parties, including those of the Tamil and Muslim

communities. It is, therefore, well poised to bring an end

to the conflict in the north-east part of the country through

political negotiations, as mandated by the people. Prime

Minister Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, in her first address to

the nation on assuming office, stated:

"We extend a hand of friendship to the people of the

north-east and hope that their leaders would take it in

the same spirit that we have extended it."

The relaxation of the ban on certain essential items

going to conflict areas and the reciprocal release of

policemen held by the secessionist movement are hopeful

signs of peace in our land. The all-island state of

emergency has been lifted and reintroduced only in the

conflict areas. Our Government will pursue with

determination its quest for peace in our land - a just and

stable peace, acceptable to all our people - undeterred by

any set-backs that might be encountered in pursuit of its

goal.

I seek the indulgence of this Assembly for having

dwelt on recent developments in my country at some

length. I did so because, at a time when in some parts of

the world the ugly tide of intolerance is rising, we in Sri

Lanka are proud that we have witnessed a vindication of

the values of tolerance and principled conduct over the

forces of narrow sectarianism and opportunism. Our recent

experience might fortify the efforts to banish prejudice and

rancour among other peoples elsewhere.

On the international scene, there have been shining

examples of prolonged and bitter confrontation being

dispelled through dialogue and negotiation. Thus, we

welcome wholeheartedly the end of apartheid and the

establishment of a united, democratic and non-racial South

Africa under the inspired, and inspiring, leadership of

President Mandela.

We also welcome the positive developments in

Palestine subsequent to the recent agreements between the

Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel, and between

Jordan and Israel, while expressing our concern over those

issues that still remain unsettled.

On the other hand, to our deep regret Bosnia and

Herzegovina is still mired in bloodshed and violence and

the humanitarian crisis in Rwanda has not abated. We

reiterate our hope that the intense suffering and

dislocation in those countries can be halted through

negotiated settlement between the parties concerned and

politically disinterested efforts by the international

community.

Sri Lanka’s strong and positive identification with

the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries began in

Belgrade in 1961, when Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike was

Prime Minister. She was Head of Government when Sri

Lanka hosted the historic summit of the non-aligned

countries in 1976. Our membership of this Movement,

then as now, derives from our deep conviction that its

principles empower the dispossessed of this world, giving

them dignity and hope for justice. The collapse of the

bipolarism imposed on the post-Second-World-War

international scene is thus no reason for non-alignment to

lie passive.

At the Non-Aligned Ministerial Conference in Cairo

we were proud to welcome South Africa as the one

hundred and tenth member of the Movement. It is

significant that this great nation emerging from the long,

dark night of apartheid has chosen to adopt the principles

of non-alignment. Cynics have predicted that the

Movement will sooner or later join the rubble of the

Berlin Wall. In our view, the end of the cold war does

not negate the rationale of non-alignment. On the

contrary, it vindicates the fundamental non-aligned

principle that military confrontation can never promote

security, stability nor peace among nations. Principles are

indestructible: people who believe in them are

indomitable.

There seemed a unique opportunity at the end of the

cold war for the world to achieve its long pursued

objective of general and complete disarmament under

effective verification, especially in the crucial area of

nuclear weapons. However, competing efforts by some

to maintain a monopoly on nuclear weapons and by

others to break it frustrate our quest for nuclear

disarmament.

Sri Lanka is deeply conscious of the serious

responsibility we undertake in presiding over the 1995 on

the Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference. It is imperative

that our advance towards a nuclear-weapon-free world

make substantial progress. To that end, work in the

Conference on Disarmament towards a comprehensive

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test-ban treaty is encouraging, though we must remain

vigilant over any attempts to delay the conclusion of the

treaty. In other areas of disarmament, Sri Lanka recently

ratified the chemical weapons Convention, which we hope

will come into force next year.

As we see the end of the nuclear arms race, we do not

want to have it replaced by regional arms races, whether to

acquire nuclear-weapon capability or to achieve greater

sophistication in conventional weapons. The United

Nations arms Register is but a step on a long road towards

transparency and confidence building, eliminating the arms

bazaar, with its links to terrorism, drug trafficking and

money-laundering.

Throughout the course of the Third United Nations

Conference on the Law of the Sea, which spanned a

decade, Sri Lanka played a constructive and creative role.

The pioneering role played by the late Ambassador

Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe of Sri Lanka, President of

the Law of the Sea Conference and a former President of

this Assembly, is part of the history of this unique

endeavour.

Sri Lanka has ratified the United Nations Convention

on the Law of the Sea, which has now entered into force,

and has signed the Agreement relating to implementation of

Part Xl of the Convention. This represents our continuing

commitment to the creation of a new legal regime of the

oceans. Sri Lanka looks forward to participating in the

historic inaugural session of the International Sea-Bed

Authority in Jamaica.

The Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean, taking

into account emerging realities, has developed a fresh basis

for a pragmatic, forward-looking approach to peace,

security and stability in the Indian Ocean area. We call

upon the countries concerned, particularly the permanent

Members of the Security Council and other major maritime

users of the Indian Ocean, to enter into a serious and

productive dialogue for a new partnership in the context of

the Committee.

As the Law of the Sea Convention enters into force,

greater support needs to be extended to regional initiatives,

such as the Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Cooperation

(IOMAC), promoting cooperation between the developed

and developing countries.

As the United Nations approaches its fiftieth

anniversary, there is increasing, and more extensive, resort

to multilateral action through the Organization. The

Security Council is finally playing the role - and

sometimes goes beyond the role - originally envisaged for

it under the Charter. Yet we must continue to reiterate

that foresight and careful assessment are vital in the

preparation for any Council intervention, and that such

action should be pursued only with the consent and

cooperation of the States concerned.

Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that the

Security Council acts on behalf of the general

membership of the United Nations. Unless its actions are

based on the widest possible support, Council decisions

will not be universally respected nor be truly effective.

In this context, Sri Lanka is of the view that Council

membership should be increased to provide for wider

representation, including representation of developing

countries. Sri Lanka was honoured to co-chair the

Working Group on the revitalization of the work of the

General Assembly, including the strengthening of the

nexus between the Assembly and the Security Council.

We believe the approach we have taken to enhance

transparency and encourage democratic practices is one

which is shared by the vast majority of developing

countries. We feel this process should be moved forward.

It was in this context that in 1993 Sri Lanka

announced its candidature for the 1996-1997 non-

permanent Asian seat in the Security Council, which by

practice of orderly rotation is due to the South Asian

sub-region.

Sri Lanka is particularly conscious of its identity as

a small State, vulnerable to the ebb and flow of

international tides, both political and economic. Yet we

have not hesitated to take principled stands when we

must. Nor will we shirk our responsibility to act in

solidarity with other developing countries. We share their

problems and concerns.

Sri Lanka is geopolitically and culturally an Asian

country. We rejoice over the fact that our continent, after

centuries of dependence, is once more resurgent,

politically stable and economically vibrant. This has been

achieved largely through self-reliance, indigenous

entrepreneurship and the Asian value systems. As we

move at the global level to greater interdependence and

interaction, Sri Lanka will remain firmly focused on the

Asian experience and its Asian context. We will spare no

effort to develop and strengthen our ties with our Asian

neighbours. An express commitment to pursue the

interests we share with the family of Asian nations will

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be a new, strong thrust in the foreign policy of our

Government.

It is in that same spirit that we participated in the

launching of the South Asian Association for Regional

Cooperation (SAARC). We are encouraged by the positive

developments in SAARC as it journeys into the twenty-first

century, propelled by two important trends in the region:

democratization and the adoption of market-friendly

economic policies. Understanding among the peoples of

the region is increasing. Contacts between professional

bodies in the region have rapidly gathered momentum.

As a region severely affected by poverty, we in South

Asia have already taken steps to share our experiences and

work out common approaches including the SAARC

commitment to eradicate poverty by the year 2002.

Absolute poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy stalk

one fifth of the world’s population. We trust that the 1995

World Social Summit and the Agenda for Development will

effectively address these issues and mobilize essential

resources to back commitments to eradicate poverty,

provide employment and promote social cohesion before the

end of this century.

Our development experience has taught us the

importance of alleviating the poverty of the poorest and of

maintaining social equity with economic growth. Sri

Lanka’s favourable social indicators are the result of a

consistent bipartisan commitment over the years to the

maintenance of a high level of social expenditure. A

number of income-transfer measures are in place. These

are indispensable to protection of the vulnerable segments

of the population during a period of structural adjustment

aimed at accelerating economic growth.

My Prime Minister has made a clear statement on

economic policy, in which he indicates the Government’s

firm resolve to build a strong national economy within a

market framework, with the principal engine of growth

expected to be the private sector, both domestic and

foreign.

We are particularly mindful of the need to pay

attention to our youth. In 1995, when we shall celebrate

the tenth anniversary of the International Youth Year, it

would be timely to focus on the achievements of the decade

and on further imperatives to advance the prospects for

youth. The former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka took the

initiative, at the Commonwealth summit in Cyprus, to focus

special attention on youth issues. Subsequently, the non-

aligned countries, at the ministerial meeting held in Cairo,

supported the proposal to convene, at the highest political

level, a special plenary meeting of this Assembly devoted

to youth affairs, as part of the fiftieth anniversary

celebrations.

I must also stress my Government’s commitment to

the provision of a transparent system for the promotion

and protection of human rights in the context of a truly

vital democracy. During our recent election campaign we

promised our people that we would, as a matter of the

highest priority, take steps to establish where necessary,

and strengthen where possible, a legislative framework to

promote and protect the full enjoyment of human rights.

Within five weeks of assuming office we have prepared,

for submission to Parliament, legislation to give effect to

the Convention against torture. Before the end of this

year, legislation will be introduced for the establishment

of a national human rights commission. This commission

will have judicial and investigative powers and will be

totally independent of the executive.

In addition, I have appointed, from among persons

active in work for human rights through independent,

non-governmental organizations, six outstanding national

experts with international credentials to assist me with

their knowledge and views. They serve in an individual

capacity and on an honorary basis. Their appointment in

no way precludes them from continuing to engage in their

public campaigning for human rights, including comment

on or criticism of governmental performance in this area.

Their appointment is further evidence of my

Government’s firm commitment to the conduct of open

and transparent government.

At the international level, we are of the view that

human rights should not become an arena for North-South

confrontation and that no country should be singled out

for hostile attention on grounds other than genuine

concern for the human rights of its citizens. The scrutiny

of a country’s human-rights record must be guided by

principles of impartiality and objectivity. Such scrutiny

must be motivated by a spirit of genuine concern,

dialogue and cooperation. In this connection, we wish to

felicitate the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human Rights, Ambassador Ayala Lasso, on his efforts

to foster a cooperative, rather than a coercive, framework

for the promotion of human rights world wide.

Sri Lanka is disappointed that, on the international

economic scene, developing countries continue to suffer

from inadequate access to trade and technology, from low

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commodity prices and from excessive debt burdens.

Financial flows for development have severely contracted.

The economic disparities between the developed and the

developing worlds continue to widen.

The Charter of the United Nations rests on two main

pillars: the maintenance of international peace and security,

and international cooperation for socio-economic

development. The United Nations must therefore at all

times proceed with equal commitment on both these

fronts - politico-security and socio-economic development.

Nor must it be forgotten that economic inequalities and

underdevelopment are at the root of phenomena such as

massive refugee flows and even ethnic and other conflicts.

We reiterate the non-aligned countries’ call for

renewal of the North-South dialogue on the basis of mutual

interests and interdependence. In this era of global

transition, the need for a favourable international

environment is imperative. Many developing countries are

embarking upon structural-adjustment programmes, at

considerable cost, yet these policies will be successful only

to the extent that there is a genuine commitment to free-

trade policies at the international level without extraneous

conditionalities.

Today - 26 September - Sri Lanka commemorates the

thirty-fifth anniversary of the death of Mr. S. W. R. D.

Bandaranaike, former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. He was

succeeded by Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world’s

first woman Prime Minister. Now - thirty-eight years later

- their daughter, Ms. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga,

has become Prime Minister. What is remarkable is that

each of them was elected to office by the free vote of the

people in keenly fought elections. Each of them succeeded,

by wholly democratic means, in unseating a strong

Government. In 1956, in this Hall, Prime Minister S. W.

R. D. Bandaranaike referred to the unconquered,

unconquerable human spirit as the "one golden thread"

passing through the "dark fabric of human history". He

said:

"I look upon the United Nations as the one

machine available to mankind today through

which it can express this unconquerable spirit of

man in its efforts to achieve ... peace, friendship

and collaboration". (Official Records of the

General Assembly, Eleventh Session, 590th

meeting, p. 235, para. 41)

That remains our view of the United Nations today.

We collectively articulate a global social contract

between the Governments and the peoples of this world

whom we represent. The success of a global social

contract rests on how individual States keep the people’s

faith through good governance, the maintenance of human

rights, equity and justice, and the provision of

opportunities to enhance the quality of life. In Sri

Lanka’s national context this involves political pluralism

and makes of politics the discharge of a public trust

where decision-making is open, transparent and based on

the widest possible extent of acceptance. Everyone in

public life is accountable for his or her actions. My

Prime Minister expressed it in these words:

"This is a beautiful but difficult dream, which we

shall strive to realize."

It is this vision that must concomitantly inspire the

conduct of relations between States. Only then will the

United Nations truly be "a centre for harmonizing the

actions of nations".