H.E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft

President of the seventieth session of the General Assembly

On 15 June 2015, the United Nations General Assembly elected Mogens Lykketoft of to serve as the President of its seventieth session, which runs from September 2015 to September 2016. At the time of his election, Mr. Lykketoft was the Speaker (President) of the Danish Parliament, a position he has held since 2011.

Mr. Lykketoft is an economist by training and a veteran parliamentarian and government minister. As chairman of the Social Democratic Party from 2002 to 2005, he was also the opposition leader in Parliament.

A Cabinet Minister for a total of 11 years – beginning in 1981, when he was Minister for Taxation – Mr. Lykketoft served most recently as Foreign Minister, from 2000 to 2001. Earlier, as Finance Minister from 1993 to 2000, he spearheaded economic reforms that led to a rise in employment rates and a strengthened economy. During the same period, Denmark, which has traditionally been an active supporter of international development efforts, dramatically exceeded its development assistance targets.

Mr. Lykketoft’s career in Parliament began in 1981 and has spanned a dozen consecutive general elections – including the latest, in June 2015. He has currently taken leave from Parliament while he serves as the President of the United Nations General Assembly.

While Vice-President of the Parliament from 2009 to 2011, Mr. Lykketoft also served on its Public Accounts Committee, from 2006 to 2011, and was the foreign policy spokesman of his party from 2005 to 2011.

When his party was in opposition over the period 1982 to 1993, Mr. Lykketoft chaired several parliamentary committees and was its key negotiator with the government on economic policy and budgets. He also served as his party’s parliamentary spokesperson from 1991 to 1993, and again, from 2001 to 2002.

Previously, from 1975 to 1981, Mr. Lykketoft headed a department of the Danish Labour Movement’s Economic Council – an economic think-tank established by the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions and the Social Democratic Party.

Since 2010, Mr. Lykketoft has been a regular foreign affairs analyst and commentator with Danish TV2 News, appearing with former Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen of the Danish Liberal Party on the weekly news magazine Ellemann & Lykketoft.

Born in Copenhagen on 9 January 1946, Mr. Lykketoft will turn 70 during the Assembly’s seventieth session, a fact he highlighted during his acceptance speech to the world body upon his election. A graduate of the University of Copenhagen with a Master’s degree in economics, he has written books and articles on subjects ranging from foreign policy and security to economics and the “Danish Model” for employment and social welfare, including two books he co-authored with his wife, the Danish journalist and writer, Mette Holm. He has two daughters and five grandsons.

Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General's message regarding the 70th anniversary of the United Nations

The 70th anniversary of the United Nations is a timely opportunity to highlight its many and enduring achievements -- and to strengthen our collective resolve to do more to promote peace and security, sustainable development and .

Every day, the United Nations makes a positive difference for millions of people: vaccinating children; distributing food aid; sheltering refugees; deploying peacekeepers; protecting the environment; seeking the peaceful resolution of disputes and supporting democratic elections, gender equality, human rights and the rule of law.

The challenges of our times transcend borders and require complex solutions reached through negotiation and compromise. The theme of this anniversary year - “Strong UN. Better World” -- captures the importance of multilateralism and the essential role of the United Nations.

Only when we work together can we overcome shared threats and seize shared opportunities; only at the United Nations can all countries – large and small, rich and poor – and all people have their voices heard. In our rapidly changing world, the United Nations remains humankind’s invaluable instrument of common progress. Let us use this anniversary to reflect on the lessons of seven decades, and reaffirm our commitment to serve “we the peoples” and build lives of prosperity, security and dignity for all.

“The United Nations is the hope and home of all humankind. The Charter is our compass."

Secretary-General Ban in remarks at ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the UN Charter, San Francisco, 26 June 2015

H.E. President of At the General Debate of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly New York,

30th September 2015

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies, Delegates, Ladies and Gentleman

Being a long standing member of the United Nations, it is indeed an honour and a pleasure for me to address the United Nations Annual General Assembly as the newly elected President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Your Excellency Mogens Lykketoft, on behalf of the Government and people of Sri Lanka, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your election as the President of the 70th Session of the General Assembly.

Let me also convey my gratitude to the former President His Excellency Sam Kutesa who contributed immensely to the achievements of the 69th Session of the General Assembly.

The United Nations now has a distinguished track record of seventy years. We in the UN have consistently engaged in the responsible and challenging task of ensuring global peace, security and development during these past seventy years. However, I realize that similar challenges are still ahead of us.

Mr. , the first Secretary-General of the United Nations when leaving office at the height of the Korean crisis in 1953 described the Secretary-General’s position as: “The most impossible job in the world”. It is no secret that all Secretaries-General who have held office contributed substantively to promote the universality of the United Nations and make it an organization that could serve humanity well in to the future.

The incumbent Secretary-General His Excellency Ban Ki-moon has also made an excellent contribution to the Organization. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, please accept my honoured gratitude and that of my people for the service you have rendered.

Mr. President,

Sri Lanka has been a member of the United Nations for sixty years. As a member state we have played a very active and responsible role in the Organization.

Sri Lanka is a nation that respects the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international conventions and treaties. A main objective of the UN is to recognize, safeguard and promote human rights. Sri Lanka remains committed to fulfil this responsibility. In this respect, we intend implementing a new programme and plan of action in Sri Lanka to advance human rights.

Sri Lanka plays a multi-faceted role in the United Nations. Our contribution to UN missions that began in the 1960s continues. Sri Lanka looks forward to enhancing further, our committed contribution to UN Peace Keeping in the future. Mr. President,

A new era of democracy dawned in Sri Lanka on January 08th 2015 ushering justice, freedom and equality. Our social and human development approach is founded on pluralism, reconciliation and sustainable development. The development vision of my Government for the next five years is also based on the same.

The theme of this Session - “Seventy Years of the UN: the Way Forward to Peace, Security and Human Rights”, is therefore very much in consonance with the vision of my Government. Moreover, my Government is committed to developing a proactive and practical programme in Sri Lanka to further ensure peace, security and human rights.

Mr. President,

The people of Sri Lanka elected a new President and a new Government in two consecutive elections during the last eight months. Within the first six months, my Government introduced essential amendments to the Constitution in order to strengthen democracy in Sri Lanka. These amendments have reinforced the foundations of good governance through institutional reforms that strengthened pluralism and democracy. With my personal intervention and facilitation, some of the executive powers vested in the Presidency were transferred to the Parliament and other independent institutions. Following the General Elections in August this year, I was able to unite the two major political parties in the country to create an alliance for consensual governance in the country, changing the confrontational political culture that prevailed in the country for six decades. Our new vision for the country involves achieving the twin objectives of sustainable development and reconciliation. A fundamental requirement in this context is dealing with the past honestly and building a modern Sri Lankan Nation.

In dealing with the past we will follow a process of truth seeking, justice, reparation and non-recurrence. It is imperative that Sri Lanka adopts a new social, economic and political approach to rise up to the challenges of the 21st century. In this regard, reconciliation receives priority attention in my country. The new consensual government under my leadership has already taken several steps to introduce and operationalize constitutional and institutional reforms required to accelerate achievement of these goals.

Mr. President,

Sri Lanka is a country that has suffered from conflict. While conflict brings destruction to a society, there are also many lessons that could be learnt during and after conflict. All forms of war and terrorism are a disgrace to humanity. The Preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states the manner in which such rebellions break out. Whatever their root cause is, the challenge of this era is to find ways and means to defeat such brutality against humanity. Resorting to terrorism as a means to solve grievances as well as action taken to eliminate such terrorism can create problems. Sri Lanka succeeded in eliminating terrorism, which continues to throttle other developing countries extending from Asia to Africa and Latin America. We defeated one of the world’s most ruthless terror outfits. Equally, our post conflict experiences also have been significant. We believe that all these experiences can be shared fruitfully with other developing countries affected by terrorism. Sri Lanka remains prepared to engage in a more active dialogue with these countries and continue to speak and advocate against terrorism.

Mr. President,

It is in this context that I wish to address the theme of this year’s Sessions. We all know that the United Nations was established with the objective of preventing the recurrence of human tragedies derogatory to mankind that took place in the twentieth century. The theme this year is: “Peace, Security and Human Rights”. This theme motivates us to review whether we have lived up to the initial expectations of the United Nations during the past seven decades. Mr. President,

I believe that for global development, it is important to have a dialogue within the South as much as between the North and South. My country that represents the South can contribute immensely to nurture such South-South dialogue.

Mr. President,

Sri Lanka is in the forefront among the oldest representative democracies in the South Asian region. We have been fortunate in preserving the democratic ethos in our country despite the prolonged conflict. Despite several factors militating against maintaining a high economic growth rate, we succeeded in sustaining the state social welfare policies that were carried over from Independence. We never compromised on these policies which includes universal free education, free healthcare and eradication of poverty. Following a path of social democracy, Sri Lanka has succeeded in achieving high levels in the Human Development Index, even during the years of conflict. This success is testimony to our commitment for achieving the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.

Mr. President,

Development should result in empowerment of women and youth and assure security for children. Frustration in youth usually leads to conflict. Nevertheless, Youth is the driving force for sustainable development. Therefore, we should transform the youth to a totally skilled workforce to succeed in the 21st century knowledge-based world. It should be a lead component of the Post 2015 Sustainable Development Agenda. We should similarly launch a national programmes to empower women and thereby enhance their contribution in development. Special programmes to protect the children and safeguard their rights are also an essential factor to develop an efficient and humane society. My understanding of sustainable development is not to have sectorally or group-wise isolated development, but to have an inclusive model of development that is capable of uplifting development standards globally. For this purpose, I stress on the need for a fresh universal approach.

Mr. President,

As we learn from the Buddhist tradition prevalent in Sri Lanka, I recognize there are three kinds of human conflicts.

The first is the conflict between the human being and nature. We are constantly engaged in this conflict in order to enjoy material comforts in life. As a result, modern human beings seek to exploit natural resources extensively in the name of development. The second is the conflict between ‘human’ and ‘human’. Such conflicts occur among individuals, among communities and among nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that such conflicts occur when human rights are not protected by rule of law. The third is the conflict within the human being. The two kinds of conflict I mentioned earlier occur when we lose the battle within us as human beings. Therefore, this is the root cause of all conflicts.

Mr. President,

Extremism, over-consumption, arbitrary exploitation of the environment, violation of human rights, vicious disparities in income are all results of our inability to overcome our craving. Among other problems, they cause insecurity, conflict, rights violations, and exploitation.

The edifice of sustainable development should therefore be built upon the foundation of self-discipline and equity. If this could be practised at a personal, community, national and global level, it would mark a giant leap forward for human kind.

I propose that we as national leaders, take cognizance of this self-discipline and equity-based approach when drawing relevant Action Plans for the future.

May the Noble Triple Gem Bless you. Message from President United Nations Association

I am conscious of the fact that this message is written at a time the United Nations is marking it’s seventieth year since its inauguration and the United Nations Association of Sri Lanka is marking its sixty-fifth year since it’s founding.

At a moment like this there are a number of historical antecedents that spring to my mind which have molded and helped in the formation of these two organizations.

As for the United Nations, the lessons learnt from the demise of the , and the reasons that made it necessary for the formation of a new international compact, in the nature of the United Nations may be poignant to remember.

Historians have traced the demise of the League of Nations to the “unanimity rule” which its members as a collective practiced. The difficulty in obtaining a “Unanimity” among all its members in all the issues that came before them, regularly, which brought its work to a complete impasse, sounded the death knell of The League. It is interesting to note that a vesitige of the “unanimity Rule” still lingers in the proceedings of the U.N Security Council among the five “Great Powers”, much to the concern of the rest of the world.

Besides these issues the greatest contribution which the International Community has made through the United Nations is the recently (1998) established Hague Court providing a leagal infrastructure for the enforcement of International Criminal Law, established under the Rome Treaty of 1998. That indeed was a significant contribution to the protection of Human Rights under International Humanitarian Law embodied in that Treaty. This is a significant achievement that merits salutary recognition on this seventieth year since the birth of the United Nations.

The other event of equal importance which we are marking is the sixty-fifth year since establishing the United Nations Association of Sri Lanka. It is important to note that the Association was established five years prior to Ceylon’s admission to membership of the United Nations. The founding father of this Association was its benefactor and its moving spirit –Mr Kumaran Fernando. Both direct and indirect help was received from several sources including the Government of Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayake the first Prime Minister of Ceylon. From tender beginnings the Association has had a formidable growth over the past sixty-five years.

There were a number of persons who contributed to the growth and expansion of the Association. The list is far too long to mention and besides those persons contributed, their time and labour, neither for money nor for sonerous recognition. They contributed, and do still continue to contribute for the notion and the concept that they believe in, which the United Nations represents. I thank them all for their contributions without which it would not have been an easy task to contine the nature and volume of the work that we are achieving.

Dr. Lakshman Marasinghe Ph.D (Lond.) Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Windsor, Of the Inner Temple, Barrister –at-Law (England), Attorney –at- Law (Sri Lanka)

Message from Secretary General United Nations Association

Happy Birthday! - Seventieth birthday is certainly a milestone to celebrate the great contribution United Nations has made to the betterment of the world. We are living in a world which change is the only thing that does not change therefore we are pushed into a situation where each one of us has a role to play in taking up the present day challenges and moving towards a brighter future of this wonderful world.

We at the United Nations Association are celebrating the sixty-fifth birthday we have embarked on a journey to inform the common people the irreplaceable work of the United Nations to the world. Our duty is to educate the people of the good contributions made to the UN to our country and also look at the contribution our country has made towards the success of the UN.

Our association was formed on the 19th of August 1950 with able guidance of Sri Lanka’s Minister of Defence, Foreign Minister and the first Prime Minister the Right Honourable D S Senanayake PC MP. The first President of the Association was Major Montague Jayawickrama MP Parliamentary Secretary to the Minster of Defence and Foreign Affairs.

Just within a year we were admitted to be the sole National Affiliate of the WFUNA - World Federation of United Nations Associations. Today one of the most senior members of the Federation actively involved the work of WFUNA.

In 1981 we introduced the study circle program in the country on approval from the Ministry of Education and the first school was the Sri Dhammasara Piyaratana Madya Maha Vidyalaya in Dodanduwa insolently the first Buddhist School in Sri Lanka. Today it is one of our largest projects in the association spreading fast among the out station schools.

In 1987 the then Secretary General Ambassador Javier Perez De Cueliar declared the UNASL a Peace Messenger organization of the UN. We are rooted in the values of the Association that has been built strongly by our former Secretary General Mr. Kumaran Fernando.

We nurture effective well informed society with engagement and empowerment of the youth of this country to take up the most challenging roles in peace building and peace making. The association gives a platform with for the youngsters to showcase their talents and todays event is an excellent showcase. The core principles that guide us are teamwork, courage, friendship and of course, the will to create a better informed community.

Our Association as for all NGO’s are well aware of the challenges that lie ahead and we are prepared to do what it takes to see that the association keeps growing towards our goals. We are indeed privileged to have an amazing committee with a multitude of strengths that would support this Association in keeping true to our mission. We look towards the further support and collaboration of our supporters – The United Nations in Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs On this great occasion where we celebrate the birthdays we are also thankful to all those who contributed to the success of this event

THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF SRI LANKA

HISTORY & ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR

October 2014 to September 2015 History

The United Nations Association of in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was founded on the 19th of August 1950, five years before Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was admitted as a member nation of the United Nations on the 14th of December 1955 together with 15 other countries.

The association is registered under the Companies Act no 17 of 1982 and with the Department of Social Services and the N.G.O Council.

The Governors General and the President of the Republic of Sri Lanka have been the patron of the association, Honorable the Prime Minister the Chief Vice Patron, the speaker and the Leader of the Opposition were Vice Patrons. His Excellency Srilankabimana Justice Christopher Gregory Weeramantry former Vice President of the International Court of Justice is an Honorary Vice President.

The Association is affiliated to the World Federation of United Nations Association (WFUNA) with its Headquarters at the Palace of Nations in .

UNASL holds its Annual General Meeting on the last Saturday of March every year and the members of the newly elected Committee are sworn in on this day.

The Committee consists of the President who is an eminent citizen of the country and an Executive Committee consisting of an Executive Chairman, Secretary General, Treasurer, Editor, Two Deputy Executive Chairmen, Five Assistant Secretaries, Vice Chairmen and Committee members.

Several categories of members is a feature, namely Annual, Life, Special Life, Complimentary, Honorary members and Corporate members. The category called the Diplomatic members is perhaps unique in that UNASL is the only organization having Diplomatic members. The Diplomatic members have contributed immensely to the activities of the association in the past. The present membership stand at around 2600.

The address of the Association is an follows:-

United Nations Association of Sri Lanka 39/1, Cyril Jansz Mawatha, 12500. Telephone – 0382232123/038-2243080 Fax – 038-2232123 E-mail – [email protected] Website – www.unasl.org

UNASL INVALUABLE SERVICES & UNASL HIGHEST HONOR AWARDS

DHARMADASA VITHARANA United Nations Association which was founded in December 20th 1950 reorganized in 1976. Late Mr. Kumaran Fernando became the Secretary General and the Headquarter was moved to the present location in Panadura. On the eve of the reorganization Mr. Dharmadasa Vitharana became a Member of the Association. He was the 13th member among the members who joined the Association after the reorganization. Dharmadasa on becoming a member of the Association unhesitatingly assured responsibilities in a big way and contributed to the success of the Association and the many projects & programmes conducted under the suspicious of the Association. He has functioned as a Assistant Secretary General & Assistant Treasurer for many years. Later he was elected unanimously

for the post of Editor and continues up to now. His wife is a Life Member of the Association.

BRIGADIER GENERAL G . V. ELAPATA vsv

Brigadier Granville V ELAPATA vsv member of the Association since 03rd August 1976, has been Chairman - Executive Committee from 1989 to 2015 contributing in many ways for the success of the programmes implemented by the Association.

MOHAMED ZAWAHIR

Zawahir joined the Association soon after leaving school and grew with the Association con- tributing towards the work of the Association. He was appointed as the Assistant Secretary General then took on the position of Deputy Executive Chairman during which period he was the trainer for the university students on the "". Then he took on the position of Editor of the Association from which position he was promoted to be the Executive Chairman. Soon after the demise of the Secretary General he was appointed the acting Secretary General in addition to the post he holds. He has been the Chairman of the UN Day function for many years.

DESHAKEERTHI M.M.M. RUSHANUDEEN JPW He is an Most Active Member Board of Directors (National Executive Committee) of United Nations Association in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. He is also a youngest Life Patron & Life Member of UNASL since 1990. He was the founder and organiser of the UNA Study Circle at Zahira College and become its first President in 199 L In view of his very high record while in school, he is a First & only UNA Study Circle President to be invited by NEC (Board of Directors), to stand election as an Member of Exco for year 92/93 & 93/9if then again in year 95/96, 96/97, 00/01, 01/02, 02/03, 03/04 & 04/05 as Asst.Secretary-

Genera1.05/06, 06/07, 07/08, as Vice Chairman. He is an old boy of Zahira College Colombo and Hameed-Al-Hussienie College, Colombo. He is a Social Worker, young businessman and

Chairman/Managing Director of M/S. MMR Marketing Services (Pvt) Ltd and NIZAM TRADING Colombo. He is Chairman of UNA Annual 2010. He has contributed in many ways for the success of the programmes implemented by the Association.

CHANDANI KUSUMALATHA SILVA

Mrs. Chandani Silva Active Member of the Association since 23 rd October 1979, She was Honouary Member & in Appreciation for her Invaluable Service from 1979 to 2015 contributing in many ways for the success of the programmes implemented by the Association.

The Activities in the year 2014 – 2015

The National Executive Committee on successful completion of the first half of the year, continued meeting up on a monthly basis at the registered office in Panadura meeting on days most suitable for members of the Executive Committee.

The National Executive Committee appreciated the work of the Medarata Unit for the progressive work they do in area.

1. National Observance of the 69th

The National Observance of the 69th United Nations Day was held at the Bishops College Auditorium on the 19th of October 2014 at 3.00pm with the singing of the National Anthem and ended at 5.00 pm with many opportunities given to students to showcase their talents in a large audience of around 800 participants from all walks of life. The special invitees and dignitaries present appreciated the work of the Association throughout the year. The keynote address for this grand event was a delivered by student from one of our study circle schools after winning the all island best speaker competition.

The special speeches delivered and cultural items performed were

 Address by the President of the Association Dr. Lakshman Marasinghe.  The Chief guest Honorable Prof. G.L. Peiris Minister of External Affairs  The Guest of Honor Mr. Subinay Nandy Resident Coordinator of the UNDP.  The keynote address was delivered by Mr. P. Ravindu Rasanjana student of /Sri Chandrasekara Maha Vidyalaya, Keselwatta. He was the winner of the Annual speech contest conducted by the UNASL. His speech was on International Year of Family Farmaing which was the UN Theme for the year 2014.  Cultural Items were presented by Ladies College, OKI International School and Asian International School students.  The European Union Ambassador David Daly, High Commissioner for Canada M/s Shelley Whiting, Brigadier General G V Elapatha, Mr A H M Azwer MP, and Consul General for Sri Lanka in Los Angeles Dr. Hector Weerasinghe and members of the UNA were present at this ceremony.  Many Annual awards were given to the Best Schools Study Circle, Best Teachers in Charge, the winners and runners up of the speech contest and the Quiz Program.  The Secretary General M M Zawahir delivered the vote of thanks.

2. Observance of the International Peace Day

The International Peace Day is an annual event which we observe at some of the Schools from our study circles. United Nations Association of Sri Lanka celebrated the UN Peace day on 19th September 2014 at Sri Chandrasekera Maha Vidyalaya at Horetuduwa, Panadura. Executive Chairman of the Association, Brigadier G. V. Elapatha presided the meeting and Mrs. Kumari Wickramasinghe, the Information Officer UN was the Chief Guest. Mrs. S. D. P.J. Abeysena, Principal of the School, teachers and students of the School and Dr. G.P.P.Silva former Editor, Mr. Dharmadasa Vitharana Assistant Secretary General, Mr. E. Karunarathne Executive Committee Member are participated at this ceremony.

Key-note address was delivered by Mrs. Kumari Wickramasinghe, the Information Officer of UN. She explained the objectives of the UN, Activities of the UN Agencies and contribution made to maintain peace and harmony among nations as well as contribution made towards education of children in the world. She also appreciated the services rendered by the UNASL.

Dr. Parakrama Silva, the former Executive Chairman of UNASL stated that the activities of UNASL made a contribution to improve the awareness of school children about UN and its activities through the school Program established by UNASL. The Principal of Sri Chandrasekera Maha Vidyalaya Mrs. S. D. P.J. Abeysena also spoke at the meeting.

The ceremony was organized and conducted by the prefects and the students of Sri Chandrasekera Maha Vidyalaya. The Information Officer of UN Mrs. Kumari Wickramasinghe donated publications of UN for raising awareness of student population about UN and its Agencies.

3. The Schools Study Circle Program.

The UNA Study Circle Program inaugurated in 1981 has a membership of 328 partner schools at present.

 The programs held by the schools during the year are evaluated based on their activity reports and selected for Annual Awards.

 We organized the Speech and General Knowledge Competition in all the schools that took part in the annual best speaker contest and the General Knowledge competition on the United Nations at the temple in Panadura. A speech contest among the schools based on the UN Theme for the year is held annually and the first - five places are given awards at the UN Day Ceremony. The winner delivers the Keynote Speech at the UN Day Observance.

 Seminars are held by the Education Committee at the partner schools from time to time. It is usual to hold a seminar at a member school with several member school in the locality participating

Three school seminars were held during the past one year namely:-

1. “Train the Trainer Programme” a seminar for 70 school teachers was held on 25th February at the UNIC Colombo. All expenses were borne by the UNIC.

 Ms.Kumari Wickramasinghe ( Officer in charge – UNIC) , Prof. Lakshman Marasinghe, M.M.Zawahir , Mr. Darmadasa Vitharana , Mr. E. Karunarathna , Mr. Sampath Priyankara, Dr. G.P.P.Silva and Ms. Panchali Rathnayake participated in the seminar.

2. A Study Circle Seminar was held on 06th June 2015 at Swarnajothi National School in Kiribathkumbura.

 Ms.Kumari Wickramasinghe ( Officer in charge – UNIC), Dr. K. D. S. Ranasinghe and Ms. Panchali Ratnayake participated in the seminar.

3. A Study Circle Seminar was held on 7th July 2015 at Mt. Christ Church College Matale at the Assembly hall.

 Ms. Hiranthi Gunawardena (Administrative Officer – UNIC), Ms.Kumari Wickramasinghe (Officer in charge – UNIC), Mr. Mahesh Jayasinghe (Former Ass. Secretary Gen. - UNASL)Mr. Darmadasa Vitharana and Mr. D. M. Siriwardena. participated in the seminar

 Interaction with Diplomatic Missions is one of the major activities of the Associations Activities.

 A delegation of members visited the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo in July and the Canadian High Commission in August. The Diplomats were invited to obtain The Diplomatic Membership of the association and they were briefed on the activities of the UNASL. All the Heads of Diplomatic Missions were invited to be the Diplomatic Members of the Association and to attend the UN Day which will be held in Colombo in October.

 The Association has had continuous and close rapport with the Resident Coordinator of the UN in Colombo. The UNDP has provided transport facilities for the Association’s team of Resource Persons at the school seminars. Mrs. Kumari Wicramasingha Information Officer at the UN Information Centre has deliverd a very informative speech at these seminar.

4. Kanagawa World Art Exhibition The Association present up child art works to the 18th Biennial Kanagawa World Child Art Exhibition in Yokohama, Japan.

5. Annual General Meeting

Annual General Meeting was held on the 29th March at the National Secretariat General in Panadura starting at 11.00am. The first Notice was sent to all members before one month prior to the closing date of the nominations on 14th March. The second notice was also sent with the agenda for the meeting subsequently. Two ExCo members kindly consented to host the first 40 members who confirm attendance at the AGM. The AGM approved the appointment of Mr. Rohana Manamperi LL B (Sri Lanka) B.E.D.- D.I.P.(So) Attorney-at-Law, Notary Public & Commissioner for Oaths as Honorary Company Secretary on the recommendation made by the ExCo.

The new Executive Committee members as recommended by the outgoing Executive committee was presented to the AGM held on 29th March and approved.

UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION

IN THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA

List of Patrons, Vice Patrons, Honorary members, Diplomatic, Complimentary and Supporting members of the National Executive Committee for 2015

Patron

His Excellency MAITHRIPALA SIRISENA President of the Honorary Life Presidents: Republic of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Patrons Emeritus Liyanage Henry Horace PERERA (deceased) fPresident Mahinda Rajapaksha Desamanya Ambassador Dr. Gamini COREA, D Phil (Oxon) MA Chief Vice Patron (Cantab), (Life Member)

Honourable Ranil Wickramasinghe Prime Minister (Life Member) Desamanya Ambassador Dr. V.L.B.MENDIS, M Phil (Lond) Phd (Col), (Life Member) (Deceased) Vice Patrons: Desabandu Dr Siran DERANIYAGALA, MA (Cantab), phD (Harv) The Speaker of Parliament, The Honourable Karu Jayasooriya , Past President, (Life Member) MP (Life Member) Desamanya Ambassador Nissanka WIJEWARDENE, Past The Honourable R. Sampanthan, MP, Leader of the Opposition President ( Life Member )

His Excellency Srilankabimana His Excellency Lankabimanaya Ambassador Jayantha DHANAPALA, Former Under Secretary Christopher Gregory WEERAMANTRY Judge ad-hoc of the General of the United Nations for Disarmament Affairs and International Court of Justice Chairman of the UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Conference Honorary and a Founder Member: Honourable Justice Shirani TILAKAWARDENE Judge of the Kumaran FERNANDO (deceased) Supreme Court Hon. (deceased) Honorary Life Presidents Honorary Members: Overseas

M.W.Deepika PRIYANGANIE, BA Professor Agni VLAVIANOS-ARVANITIS - Greece (Founder & President of the Bio politics International Organization) – (BIO) and Indrajith WIJEKULASURIYA the International University for the Bio Environment Brigadier Granville ELAPATA, VSV fPresident Nelson MANDELA (SA) – ( Founder & President of the Dharmadasa VITHARANA Republic of South Africa ) (deceased)

M. M. Zawahir fPresident Mikhail S GORBACHEV, (Russia) Former President USSR (Chairman of the GORBACHEV FOUNDATION in Russia) Deshakeerthi M M M RUSHANUDEEN, JP (W/I) Ambassador Javier Perez DE CUELLAR, (Peru) – (Secretary – Chandanie Kusumalatha Silva General Emeritus of the UN)

Ambassador Maurice F STRONG (Canada), (Former Under PH.D(Lond) LL.D(Col) (PRESIDENT) Secretary – General of the UN), Secretary General of the UN Brigadier-General G V ELAPATA, vsv (Executive Chairman) Conference on the Environment, Stockholm 1972 and 1992 Chairman, The Earth Council M M ZAWAHIR (Secretary General)

Dr Marek HAGMAJER (Poland), Secretary General World S I Ahmed KABIR (Treasurer) Veterans Federation, Secretary-General Emeritus, of the WFUNA, Dharmadasa VITHARANA (Editor) President Special NGO Committee on Human Rights, Geneva Dr D W WEERASOORIA MBBS, FRCS, FCGPSL, FCSSL Dr Serguei GRIBKOV, Secretary General Emeritus of the former (Deputy Executive Chairman) UNA of the USSR Dr. K D S RANASINGHE, MBBS, FRCOG (Deputy Executive Honorary Life Vice Presidents: Chairman) Eric C ABEYWARDENE, (Life Member) Deshakeerthi M M M RUSHANUDEEN, JP (W/I) Professor Lakshman MARASINGHE, PhD (Lond), LLM (Lond) (Senior Assistant Secretary General)

LLB (Lond), (Life Member) Sampath PRIYANKARA (Assistant Secretary General) M Herman P PERERA, JP, UM D M SIRIWARDENE (Assistant Secretary General) Complimentary Life Members: E. Karunaratne (Assistant Secretary General) Sri Lanka Desamanya A. T. Malalgoda JP (W/I) (Assistant Secretary Suresh JOACHIM, P N NANDADASA, Desmond FERNANDO, General) PC, P Yasith DE SILVA, John K WIJESINGHE, JP, UM, Prasanna VITHANAGE, David TELDENIYA, Arjuna RANATUNGA Deshakeerthi M Z M HANIEFFA, JP (W/I) (Assistant Secretary , Dilantha MALAGAMUWA, J V W NAINANKADA, Daniel General) BOLLEGALA, Dr Lawrence PERERA, W H DAYARATNE, Dr P R (Members of Executive Committee) Anthonis, Mahendra AMARASURIYA, Nadeeka PERERA, Nandawathi NANAYAKKARA, T Anushka Damayanthi Dr. M Z M Nizar FERNANDO P. R. Mallika Philips Desamanya Ramar Gananathan JP (W/I) Complimentary Life Members - Overseas U. A. Abdul Marsook, Attorney at Law Tony GREIG, Dr Louise FINKLER-BAHR, C Jan KAMP, Ren Dr. Kamal Abeywardena HOUKUN, Hank Bartus Johannes FRISO, Stefan PFEIFFER, Dr M. D. Lalith D. Peiris Fredrich Erhardt DIETRICH Eral G. Smith Officers of the Association Life Patrons - Sri Lanka John K WIJESINHA,JP,UM, Company Secretary, Attorney at law 1. Professor Lorna DEWARAJA, BA (Hon), phD (Lond) 2. Adesh Ronald WIDMER (s w) Honorary Legal Advisors 3. Major General C H FERNANDO, vsv M Herman P PERERA, JP, UM (Senior Legal Advisor) Attorney- 4. James A FEATHER at-law 5. G J MONIE 6. M M ZAWAHIR Chitral FERNANDO Attorney-at-law 7. Colonel Dr P A C De SILVA (Deceased) 8. Deshakeerthi M M M RUSHANUDEEN, JP (W/I) John K WIJESINHA, JP, UM, Attorney at law 9. Nandadasa RAJAPAKSE 10. Manjula DE SILVA Official Printers: 11. Dr E M S EDIRISINGHE(Deceased) Lake House Printers & Publishers Ltd, Dilruk Printers and Top National Executive Committee 2015/16: Printers

Dr.. Lakshman Marasinghe, LL.B(Lond), LL.M(Lond), Diplomatic Members: Commonwealth of Nations, The High Commissioner from the Court of Saint James and the High Commissioners of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Maldives, Honorary Members of the National Executive Committee: Canada South Africa and Australia Ms Chandani VITHARANA (Most Senior Member) Other Countries: The Ambassadors of Cuba, Germany, China, Ms D Leelawathie SILVA (Most Senior Member) Korea, Canada, , Indonesia, , Iran, Saudi, Dr. G. P. P. Silva Arabia South Africa and the European Union Ms. Padma Samaradivakara Costa Ms. Sarojini Wijay Rodrigo Immediate Past President – Rohini Nanayakkkara Miss. Bimalka Madhubhashini Perera Mr. Vengadasalan Arunan Past Presidents Mr. A. E. Prasad Fernando Rienzie T Wifetilleke, FCIM Honorary Permanent Resident Representative – Overseas Ambassador S A C M ZUHYLE Ambassador General Cyril RANATUNGE, former Commander Thalif DEEN, at the United Nations (New York) of the , Defense Secretary and former High Eng. A. A. Irshad Ahamed (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore) Commissioner to the Court of Saint James Past Patrons, who were Governors-General of The Dominion Desamanya Ambassador Nissanka WIJEWARDENE, Former and or Presidents of the Republic: Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, Former Chairman Bank of Ceylon, Former Chairman of the 1950 - His Excellency the Right Honourable Herewald Greater Colombo Economic Commission and former Secretary to Ramsbothan, Baron Soulbury of Soulbury, the last Governor-General and numerous other high positions in GCMG,GCVO,OBE,MC (Second Governor-General of the the Ceylon Civil Service Dominion

Desamanya Ambassador Neville KANAKARATNE, Governor- His Excellency Sir Oliver Ernest Southern Province and former Ambassador to the USA and the GOONETILLEKE,GCMG,KCVO,KBE,K St J (Third Governor- USSR and High Commissioner to India, former Legal Advisor to General of the Dominion ) three former Secretaries-General of the United Nations and former UN Commissioner for Nambia. (Deceased) His Excellency ,MBE, LLd (HC) Peradeniya, LLd (HC) Vidyalankara, D.Litt (HC) Vidyodaya, Fourth Desamanya Ambassador Dr Vernon L B MENDIS,M Phil (Lond) and Last Governor-General of the Dominion, first President of the PhD (Colombo), former High Commissioner to the Court of Saint Republic James and Ambassador to France, now Director General Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) His Excellency Junius Richard JAYAWARDENE, (First (Deceased) Executive President of the Republic)

Desamanya Dr. Gamini COREA, MA (Cantab) D Phil (Oxon), His Excellency , (Second Executive former Under Secretary-General of the UN and Secretary-General President of the Republic) of the UNCTAD, former Ambassador to the European Union His Excellency (Third Executive Desabandu Dr Siran DERANIYAGALA, MA (Cantab), PhD President of the Republic) (Harv), former Director General of Archaeology Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA Professor Lakshman MARASINGHE,LLD (Lond),b LLM (Lond), (Fourth Executive President of the Republic) LLB (Lond), University Professor and Head of the Faculty of Law, University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. His Excellency Mahinda RAJAPAKSHA (Fifth Executive President of the Republic) Desabandu Dr F G Hudson SILVA, Founder & Eye Donation Society Limited. (Deceased) Past vice Patrons:

The Honourable Felix R Dias BANDARANAIKE, MP (Deceased) The Prime Ministers of the Republic The Right Honourable Don Stephen SENANAYAKE, PC, MP Senator the Honourable Dr. M.V.P.Peiris. (Deceased) The Honourable Dudley Shelton SENANAYAKE, MP

Major the Honourable Montague JAYAWICKREME, MP, General the Right Honourable Sir John Lionel KOTALAWALA, PC, CH, KBE, MP (Deceased) The Honourable Solomon West Ridgeway Dias BANDARANAIKE, A A Irshard Ahamad,Eng MP Span Engineering The Honourable Dr Wijayananda DAHANAYAKA, MP Hatton National Flag The Honourable Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias BANDARANAIKE, MP Seylan Bank The Honourable J R Jayawardhana,MP Chandrasiri Distributors The Honourable Ranasinghe PREMADASA, First appointed Prime Al-Saffa Travels Minister) M J M Shafeer The Honourable Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA, MP (Second M J M Irshad appointed Prime Minister) Perfect Engineering Industries The Honourable , MP (Third appointed Maalinda Enterprises Prime Minister) Roshan Plastic Industries The Honourable Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGE, MP Peoples’ Bank (Fourth appointed Prime Minister) The Honourable Mahinda RAJAPAKSE, MP (Fifth appointed List of Benefactors 2015 Prime Minister) The Honourable Rathnasiri Wickramanayake Sumathi Fernando The Honourable D M Jayarathne U Buddhika Senanayake Media Colombo Municipal Council List of UN DAY Sponsors 2015 B V Merwin

Bank of Ceylon

Three Anniversaries

The year 2015 is unique as three organisations in the United Nations family celebrate anniversaries during the year. In addition to being the seventieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, this year also is the sixtieth anniversary since the admission of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) to the United Nations family. This occasion is more important to the United Nations Association of Sri Lanka (UNASL) as it celebrates the 65th anniversary of its establishment. It is noted with pride and humility that the UNASL was established five years prior to the admission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations family. It is appropriate at this juncture for the Association to browse through into the past. In doing so , an article titled “ History of UN Association of Sri Lanka 1950-2005” prepared by late Mr. Kumaran Fernando for the publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “ Sri Lanka and the United Nations -- 50 years of Partnership” was identified. This article which describes the circumstances relating to the establishment of the UNASL prior to admission of Sri Lanka to the UN family is reproduced in this Annual as a mark of respect to the pioneering work done by late Mr. Fernando for a continuous period of fifty years for the upliftment of the UNASL until his demise in 2010. Late Mr Fernando was among the young group of people who believed in the possibility of establishing a supportive body of the United Nations even before the country is formally admitted to the UN. They were able to convince the then Prime Minister the Late Right Honourable D S Senanayake of this fact and were able to formally establish the UNASL in 1950 with Major Montague Jayawickrama as its first President. Late Mr. Fernando took over the reins of the UNASL as the Secretary –General in July 1976 when the Association became less active and revived it to be among the most active support bodies of the UN. In recognition of his untiring efforts he was named a “Peace Messenger “by the Secretary – General of UN in ….. History of the UN Association of Sri Lanka (1950 – 2005) Mr. Kumaran Fernando

After the grant of political independence by Great Britain in February, 1948 and the prompt steps taken by the Government of Ceylon to be admitted as a member State of the United Nations, it became apparent that the country was not going to gain admission soon owing to ‘cold war’ differences between the two superpowers within the Security Council. This prompted a group of young people who had heard of There was another landmark achievement that year. The worldwide interest in setting up UN supportive groups UNA had held its first AGM at which the author was calling on Prime Minister D S Senanayaka to indicate to elected as the youngest member of the Committee of him their interest in setting up a United Nations Management and in that capacity travelled to Europe as a Association in Ceylon. They felt that it was not necessary representative of the UNA. In the United Kingdom he to wait for formal admission of the country felt that it was successfully established a firm link with British UNA, an not necessary to wait for formal admission of the country arrangement that persists to this day, some 54 years later. to the UN but that support by the people to the whole He also met John A F Ennals, THE FIRST Secretary - concept could begin at once. General of the WFUNA with whom he established a The Prime Minister who was also the Minister of warm personal friendship which persisted until his External Affairs agreed with this view and gave the group sudden death in China while on a visit to the UNA in that his unreserved blessing and support. What is more at the country. This representative also met with M Francois inaugural meeting of the United Nations Association of Dausset in Paris who was running the WFUNA Office in Ceylon held at ‘Sravasti’ meeting hall, Major Montague that City where the Sixth Session of the UN General Jayewickreme, M P , Parliamentary Secretary to the Assembly were being held in the Palais des Chailliot. He Ministry was unanimously elected as its first President went on to meet the first Secretary- General, Tryg ve and Yogendra Duraiswamy as its first Secretary General. Halvdon Lie, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Ralph Bunche. He The author was also present. also called on Shamaldharee Lall (India) Assistant His Excellency the Right Honourable Herewald Secretary- General and officials of the Department of Ramsbotham, the Governor- General was graciously Public Information who promised to supply printed in pleased to accept office as the first Patron, while Prime bulk to the new UNA. Minister the Right Honourable D S Senanayaka, became its Chief Vice Patron. This practice became a firmly Most of all the most important and lasting Contact in established tradition and has continued unbroken to this Paris was with Sir one of Britain’s top day. diplomats who had attended the charter conference in Immediately after the inaugural meeting, the author San Francisco and been elected at the end of it as the personally called on Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, then executive secretary of the preparatory commission of the Minister of Home Affairs and invited him to enrol, to United Nations. His first task was the launching of the which he promptly agreed and became the highest United Nations which he successfully carried out on 24 ranking political figure to become a Member. Later, in October 1945. Sir Gladwyn, together with British UNA 1954, on his assumption of office as the third Governor- with the full support of his Majesty King Gorge VI and General, Sir Oliver became the Patron of the Association. British UNA Organised preparatory meetings at Church House, Westminster, London During the autumn of 1945 In 1951, the new Association gained admission to followed by the first Sessions of the UN General WFUNA – the World Federation of United Nations Assembly at Methodist Central Hall Westminster Associations –which had replaced the League of Nations Beginning On 10 January, 1946 at Sir Gladwyn was Union – as a national affiliate. The WFUNA, which had elected as the first and only ever acting Secretary General been founded in 1946, became the chief voluntary of the United Nations. promoter of the United Nations among the People’s of the When Trygve Halvdon Lie elected as selected as the Un World. Other national UNAs admitted that year were first Secretary General on 01 February Gladwyn stepped Jamaica, Burma and South Korea. down from the high pedestal on which history had placed him and returned to his diplomatic duties elsewhere Gunasekera a pracising lawyer and Secretary of the Legal with the sobriquet “Father of the United Nations” Aid Commission who was elected Treasurer pleaded soon following him around. Many, many years later, the UNA afterwards that he found it difficult to find time from his of Sri Lanka discovered him living in retirement in a professional duties to carry out the responsibilities as government flat and asked him to to his surprise and Treasurer and so Indrajith Wijekulasooriya, pleasure to accept an honorary life president office which recommended by the new Secretary- General, took over he did most promptly and remained so until he passed as de facto Treasurer. Next, the new President proposed away in 1999. that L H Horace Perera, WFUNA Secretary General be Later the author was introduced to Luis Padilla Nervo elected as the first Honorary Life President of the UNA Sixth President of the Un General Assembly who was and this too was unanimously approved. delighted to hear the news of a UNA in Ceylon. This took Back at the WFUNA Headquarters at the Palace of the place at the annual concert to mark the third anniversary Nations, Geneva, Horace Perera quickly got in touch with of the singing of the universal Declaration of the Human Hilary Barratt-Brown a former British Army Officer who Rights in that same city. The concert took place in the had served in Sri Lanka during the Second World War underground theatre of the Palais in which the general and had taken a deep liking to the people of the country. Assembly was in session. Sometime Later the UNA was After demobilasation he had become a UNA enthusiast able to get elected to the executive committee of the and married a rich lady whose home was in Majorca, WFUNA. among the Balearic Islands of Spain. He promptly agreed Senator the honourable Dr MVP Peiris, succeeded the to Horace Perera’s suggestion to meet the annual dues to first president of the UNA and continued until 1970 when the WFUNA and also settle some accumalated arrears as the honourable Felix R Dias Bandaranayake, Minister of well. Justices was elected President with Nihal Jayewickrame, Secretary, Ministry of Justice as secretary General. The new Secretary – General got together a small team to In 1976 Liyanage Henry Horace Perera, Secretary General help him. They were, among others Dharmadasa of the WFUNA (1966-76) worried that his home UNA Vitharan, Brigadier Granville Elapata, a serving Army was inactive and decided to pay a visit just before Officer, Ms. Verna Karunatilleke, and Lakshman relinquishing duties as the WFUNA Secretary General. Ranathunga all mercantile employees who remain He also found out that the UNA was having many supporters to this day. They were followed later by Henry difficults in playing its annual dues to the WFUNA. He Karunaratne (now decesased) and Shelton Peiris. There felt that the UNA needed to be re-activated and after was also Chandani Silva, and Leelawathie Silva who hearing of Felix Dias Bandaranayake’s request to be became the hostesses at the National Office which relieved of his duties as President; he spoke with Nihal continued to be visited by Ambassadors, High Jayawickreme and Kusala Abhayawardhana, M P and Commissioners and even Ministers. These two ladies asked if they could recommend a successor to continue to serve the UNA in different ways to this day. Jayewickreme. Kusala Abhayawardhana said she could Enthusiastic and firm support also came unexpectedly think o fonly one person whom Jayawickreme also knew from the then Director, UN Division of the Ministry of very well. Foreign Affairs, Karen Breckenridge who not long At a meeting held (at the Justice Ministry Conference afterwards died from a motor accident in Geneva. His Room in Hultsdorf on 07th July, 1976) presided over by support was followed by that of K Manikkalingam. Haji S M A Raschid, J P, Senior Vice President, he Ambassador Susantha De Alwis after his return from announced from the Chari of the letter of resignation sent serving in Geneva, also became a close supporter. by Gelix Dias- Bandaranayake, and proposed the name of Nihal Jayawickrama as President which was In 1978, Y Duraiswamy was elected as its new President. unanimously accepted. After taking the Chair Nihal Friendly relations were then established with the UNAs Jayawickrama in his first act as President, proposed the of the Soviet Union, India, Poland, Bangaladesh, Pakistan, name of Kumaran Gernado, the author, for the post of Canada and Japan. The UNA of China which had been a Secretary – General. After that Dr. Mackie Ratwatte Founder Member of the WFUNA during the Chiang Kai- (Private Secretary to the Prime Minister) was also elected Shek regime, had been disbanded after the Revolution of a Vice President and the election of J A Gajanayake, 1949 and Sri Lanka joined other UNAs world - wide in (Secretary of a Powerful Teacher’ Union) Professor K writing separate letters to the Government of the People’s Kularatnam (Professor of Geography of the University of Republic of China appealing for the re-activation of the Colombo) and Ms. Irangani Ratwatte ( Private Secretary UNA, an appeal which was heeded and which led to to the Governor- General ) as ExCo Members, Elliott China taking its rightful place in the Councils of the WFUNA in 1985. The UNA of the Soviet Union became In 1995, the Foreign Ministry set up a National the largest benefactor not only of the UNA but also of Committee to organize the UN50 celebrations to mark WFUNA itself which too was on the verge of financial the golden jubilee of the founding of the United Nations collapse many times but was saved by the Soviet UNA. and invited the UNA to serve on the committee as the sole Many distinguished citizen enjoying high public standing NGO. On a proposal was accepted by the NatCom and came forward to support the UNA and remain the UN50 Secretariat in New York allocated more than unsvervingly loyal to the Association to this day. Among half the required amount. The entire balance was met by the distinguished personalities who became Life the Seylan Bank and with the Cooperation of the Rilways Members and are still with us with two exceptions, Department the whole project was successfully 30years later, are Desamanya Ambassador Dr. Gamini conducted over a period of four months. It was declared Corea, Desamanya Ambassador Dr. Vernon Mendis, open at the Fort Railway Station By the then Foreign Desamanya Ambassador Nissanka Wijewardene, Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar. Desabandu Dr. Hudson Silva, Desabandu Dr. Shiran The fiftieth anniversary or golden jubilee of the UNA was Deraniyagala. Dr. Kim Hak-Su, currently a UN Under- held in 2000 with a message from UN Secretary- General Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNESCAP who said “Since its birth in 1950, the UNA of and Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, former Under Sri Lanka has been a valuable ally of the United Nations – Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs of the UN and a two-way link between the Organisation and the people a leading Contender for the world’s top job of UN it exists to serve. As long as there are people like you Secretary-General in 2006. The exceptions are the willing and able to dedicate themselves to the betterment passing away of Desamanya Ambassador Neville of all, there is hope” Kanakaratne and Desabandu Dr. Hudson Silva. The In 2004, the UNA proposed to the Ministry of Foreign former’s demise dealt a severe blow to the Association Affairs that a National Committee be sent up to mark the and this is felt over and over again to this day. golden jubilee of Sri Lanka’s Admission to the UN in UNA Study Circles project was launched in 1981. This 2005. The proposal was accepted by Foreign Minister project was converted into a programme in 1990 with the Kadirgamar and the Committee established under the formal approval of the Education Minister Lalith Chairmanship of the Deputy Foreign Minister, Professor Athulathmudali, who too had been in his student days a Wiswa Warnapala. Founder Member of the UNA in 1950, and was only too In 2005, the Association began by electing Rienzie T happy to give the project his blessing and instruct the Wijetilleke one of Sri Lanka’s best known Bankers and Ministry officials to issue a general circular to all Chairman of the Hatton National Bank as its new secondary schools to establish UNA Study Circles and president. He led the Association in the observances for deal directly with the UNA. Today, in 2005, the the Sixtieth Anniversary of the Signing of the UN Charter programme reached the beginning of its silver jubilee year by prospagating and article on the subject widely with 300 secondary schools on its register and reproduced in many newspapers with a photograph of constituting the largest ongoing activity. Y Y Kim the the Ceylon National flag being hoisted at the UN for the then UNDP Resident Representative and Director of the first time and TV interviews on two state channels in UN Information Centre in Colombo, extended his Sinhala and English. support by offering a UNDP vehicle with driver and fuel With a splendid performance, the National Observance of for the Study Circle Mobile Unit to visit a Member School the Diamond Jubilee UN Day was held in an unbroken once or twice a month or for an overnight stay involving chain of 55 years, in the glittering Main Saloon of the two days. Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall In 1987, Secretary General Javier Perez De Cuellar after 28 years and where every seat was occupied with the appointed the UNA as an Official UN ‘Peace Messenger’ Speaker of Parliament, the Honourable W J M the only NGO in the country almost 20 years later to be Lokubandara, as the Chief Gust. so honoured. In 1989 the Association was incorporated by UNA’s final bow for the memorable year was the the Registrar of Companies under the Companies Act No assistance given to the Foreign Ministry National 17 of 1982. Then in 1991 the UNA launched its monthly Committee to Organise a brilliant and spectacular public lecture programme and up to the end of 2005, had ceremony and performance to mark Fifty Years of Sri conducted 60 public lectures. Ambassadors, Judges, Lanka with the United Nations in honour of which this University Professors, NGO leaders and others from book is being published by the National Committee. different groups have delivered lectures under this ongoing programme which is very much in demand. . Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development– the way forward, beyond 2015

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were member states agreed in principle to initiate a developed and adopted by the United Nations process to develop a set of Sustainable in year 2000 in order to assist in the rapid Development Goals (SDGS). economic development in the developing world. There were eight such goals adopted by the UN One of the main outcomes of the Rio+20 namely, eradication of extreme poverty and Conference was the agreement by member hunger, achieving universal primary education, States to launch a process to develop a set of promotion of gender equality, improvement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which maternal health, combatting Hiv/Aids, achieving will build upon the Millennium Development environmental sustainability and achieving Goals and converge with the post- 2015 global partnership for development. This development. It was decided to establish an strategy resulted in the enhancement of the "inclusive and transparent intergovernmental development of many developing countries. process open to all stakeholders, with a view to developing global sustainable development The eight Millennium Development Goals which goals to be agreed by the General Assembly” were adopted in the year 2000 were to be accomplished by 2015. During this period, it Rio+20 did not elaborate specific goals but was clear that enormous progress has been stated that SDGs should be limited in number, made towards achieving these goals. Global aspirational and easy to communicate. Member poverty has continued to decline while States agreed in the Rio+20 Outcome attendance in primary schools has increased Document that SDGs must be based on tremendously. In addition, deaths of small Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of children and deaths during pregnancy have also Implementation, fully respect all the Rio decreased. Access to safe drinking water Principles, and also be consistent with throughout the world has increased international law. They also agreed that the significantly. Targeted investments in fighting goals should build upon commitments already Malaria, Aids and Tuberculosis have saved made and contribute to the full implementation millions of lives. It has been proved beyond any of the outcomes of all major summits in the doubt that attempts at adhering to MDGs are economic, social and environmental fields. It making a real difference in people’s lives, and also should focus on priority areas for the the UN agreed after considerable deliberation achievement of sustainable development, being that progress so achieved can and should be guided by the Outcome Document and also expanded. Most of the countries with strong address and incorporate in a balanced way, all leadership and accountability and countries three dimensions of sustainable development with state commitments in the field of health and and their inter linkages. It was expected that the education such as Sri Lanka were able to goals should be coherent with and be integrated achieve the MDGs prior to many other into the United Nations Development Agenda countries. beyond 2015. In addition it was noted that it should not divert focus or effort from the The success in achieving the targets set in the achievement of the Millennium Development MDGs prompted the United Nations to initiate Goals and also include active involvement of all discussions on carrying forward the relevant stakeholders, as appropriate, in the development achieved through the MDGs. process. These discussions were initiated at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable It was further agreed that SDGs must be Action- Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janeiro oriented, Concise, Easy to communicate, in June 2012. At this conference, the initial steps Limited in number, Aspirational, Global in to develop a set of goals to carry forward the nature, Universally applicable to all countries, success of the MDGs were discussed and the while taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and be integrated into the UN development and respect national policies and priorities. agenda beyond 2015.

The Outcome document further specifies that A 30-member Open Working Group (OWG) of the development of SDGs should: the General Assembly was tasked with preparation of a proposal on the SDGs.  Be useful for pursuing focused and coherent action on sustainable The Rio+20 outcome document, The Future development We Want states that, at the outset, the OWG  Contribute to the achievement of will decide on its methods of work, including sustainable development developing modalities to ensure the full  Serve as a driver for implementation involvement of relevant stakeholders and and mainstreaming of sustainable expertise from civil society, the scientific development in the UN system as a community and the in its whole work, in order to provide a diversity of  Address and be focused on priority perspectives and experience. areas for the achievement of The OWG was established on the 22nd of sustainable development January 2013 by a decision of the General Assembly. In its first session, the OWG elected The sustainable Development goals should two co-chairs. Namely Mr. Csaba Kõrösi, address in a balanced way, all three dimensions Permanent Representative of Hungary, and Mr. of sustainable development namely economic, Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of social and environmental and be coherent with Kenya. The Member States decided to use an innovative, constituency-based system of representation that is new to limited membership bodies of the General Assembly. It meant that most of the seats in the OWG are shared by several countries. The group was selected from five groups of countries namely African, Asia Pacific, Latin American, Western European and Eastern European groups. Sri Lanka participated jointly with India and Pakistan as a member representing the Asia Pacific group.

The diagram below indicates the process by which the proposals for SDGs were formulated.

The OWG nearly after two years of deliberations developed set of seventeen goals (17) and one hundred sixty nine targets (169) to go along with them. These 17 goals are listed below.

The 17 proposed Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (taking note of agreements made by the UNFCCC forum) 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

The diagram below categorises the above seventeen goals into six main areas namely Dignity,People, Prosperity, Planet, Partnership and Justice. These draft Sustainable Development Goals and the169 targets would be taken up for discussion at the United Nations Summit for adoption of the Post 2015 Development Agenda. Two resolutions will be taken up for discussion and adoption. The summit is scheduled for 25th to 27th September 2015 to be held as a high level plenary meeting of the General Assembly and two important reports will be discussed prior to adoption. One is Transforming our world - the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This document which was a result of prolonged inter- governmental negotiations in which the facilitators were the permanent Representatives of Kenya and Ireland , was finalized and submitted , to the United Nations on the 12th of August 2015.

The preamble of this report is reproduced below so that the readers may have a clear idea of its objectives . “This Agenda is a plan of action for People, Planet and Prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. It recognizes the need for eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. It is resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want, and to heal and secure our planet. We are determined to take bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world on to a sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets which we are announcing today demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new Universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what the MDGs did not achieve. They seek to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental. The Goals and targets will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet:

People

We are determined to end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that all human beings can fulfill their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment.

Planet

The people of the United Nations are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations.

Prosperity

We are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature

Peace

We are determined to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development.

Partnership

We are determined to mobilize the means required to implement this Agenda through a revitalised Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focused in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable, and with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people.

The interlinkages and integrated nature of the Sustainable Development Goals are of crucial importance in ensuring that the purpose of the new Agenda is realised. If we realise our ambitions across the full extent of the Agenda, the lives of all will be profoundly improved and our world will be transformed for the better.

In addition to being a detailed agenda of Development Goals for the next fifteen years commencing 2016, replacing the MDGs, this report also discuss two other important aspects of development namely, implementation and follow up. The report discusses in great detail all aspects of implementation and the need for global partnership in successful implementation of the goals and the related targets. It also should be noted that the 17th SDG is to strengthen the means of implementation. Therein the report has 19 separate targets to cover areas such as Finance, Technology, Capacity building, Trade and other systemic issues that are important in implementation.

The report has also discussed ways and means of follow up and review of the levels of implementation. It is indicated that there is a need for follow up at national, regional and global levels. National level follow up will be the responsibility of individual member countries while the regional level follow up will have to be undertaken by various regional bodies with the assistance of regional organisations of the UN. Global review would be coordinated by the UN and will be carried out by the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. (HLPF). It is expected that a meeting of the HLPF will be held in 2016.

Finally, the report also include a very important section namely A call for action to change our world. It is essentially a plea for successful implementation of the SDGs and its related targets. It says, that the future of humanity and our planet lies in the hands of Global community, specially the younger generations. It would be the duty of all to ensure that the goals are implemented and that the gains are irreversible.

The Global community must unite and be bold enough to take up this challenge.

WHAT IS PHOTONICS

Photonics is the science and technology

for the future. The 21st century will With Best Compliments from depend as much on photonics as the 20th century depended on Electronics. It is the science2 and technology of generating, controlling, and detecting

photons, which are particles of light. Photonics underpins technologies of daily life from smartphones to laptops and the Internet and from medical instruments to lighting technology.

Photonics is expected to play in the 21st century, the role played by Electronics in the 20th century.

ROTAVIRUS Gastroenteritis

Introduction improved sanitation and hygiene and safe water supply is not effective in controlling the spread Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe of the disease. The mortality is higher in the gastroenteritis in infants and young children developing countries than developed countries. worldwide. It is the leading cause of severe dehydrating diarrhoea in children less than 5 In most low income countries in Asia and Africa, years of age. It causes 138 million diarrhoeal rotavirus infection is seen year-round with one episodes, 2 million hospitalizations and an or more periods of relatively intense rotavirus estimated 453,000 deaths, each year. About circulation. In contrast, seasonal peaks of 90% of the deaths occur in low income countries gastroenteritis have been demonstrated in in Africa and Asia. Worldwide it is estimated that temperate countries. almost every child has had at least one episode of diarrhoea due to rotavirus by the age of 5 Transmission years. Rotavirus is shed in very high numbers during 12 Rotavirus infection in Sri Lanka is a significant acute infection (10 viral particles per gram of cause of morbidity. Several studies and the stools), both in stools and vomitus. It is ongoing rotavirus surveillance studies show that transmitted from person to person by the faeco- rotavirus causes about 24% of the watery oral route via contaminated fomites. diarrhoeal infections. Of this, 80% of the Transmission by contaminated food and water infections occur in the age group < 2 years. is not common. Transmission via the respiratory However, mortality due to rotavirus infection in route has been suggested. It is infectious in low Sri Lanka is low. doses (about 100 viral particles). The virus can survive in the environment for days and in stools Virology for months.

Infection is caused by rotavirus which is a Pathogenesis member of the genus reoviridae. It is divided into 7 groups A-G out of which only group A The majority of pathological changes are infects humans. The virus has 2 surface confined to the small intestine, and diarrhea is glycoproteins G and P. The genotypes of thought to arise from several mechanisms. rotavirus are based on these glycoproteins. Rotavirus infects the proximal two thirds of the There are 15 G types and 26 P types. Out of this ileum by binding to mature enterocytes at the 5 G types are seen commonly G1-4 and G9. tips of the villi. These non-proliferative cells of The common P types are 8, 6 and 4. the ileum are differentiated to carry out digestive Approximately, 90% of the infections worldwide and absorptive functions. In addition, these cells are due to 5 types: namely, G1[P8], G2[P4], allow absorption across the enterocyte barrier, G3P[8]. G4P[8] and G9P[8]. The strain type through both passive diffusion and active does not correlate with severity of clinical transport. Crypt cells, located in the valleys illness. The most common genotype seen in the between villi, perform a secretory role, actively developed world is G1P[8]. However, the secreting chloride ions into the intestinal lumen. developing countries show greater strain Thus enterocytes favour absorption while crypt diversity with uncommon strains. Several cells favour secretion. strains might circulate at the same time. All these genotypes have been demonstrated in Sri The virus enters the enterocytes through direct Lanka. penetration or receptor mediated endocytosis. Virus-induced cell death leads to sloughing of Epidemiology the villus epithelium and proliferation of The incidence of rotavirus infection is secretory crypt cells in response. The comparable in the developing and developed absorptive capacity of the gut thus decreases, world unlike infection with bacterial pathogens. while fluid and electrolyte loss into the lumen This shows that increased disease awareness, ensues. Diarrhea also arises from the activity of a viral enterotoxin, nonstructural protein 4 methods. There are rapid methods like latex (NSP4). This causes diarrhoea by triggering agglutination tests which are less sensitive than cellular signaling and calcium mobilization that EIA. Electron microscopy has being used in the in turn leads to secretory diarrhoea. Finally, the diagnosis of rotavirus but is even less sensitive enteric nervous system contributes to the than the other methods. Typing of rotavirus is maintenance of diarrhea, stimulating secretion done by PCR methods. Identification of of fluids and solutes. uncommon serotypes like G12 need sequencing. Clinical illness

The incubation period is 1-3 days and an infected child will excrete the virus a few days Management before and after the clinical illness. The clinical spectrum of the disease is wide, with transient There is no specific treatment for rotavirus loose stools to severe diarrhoea with gastroenteritis. Management depends on dehydration leading to death. Typically, the management of the dehydration. can lead to clinical illness is of abrupt onset, with fever, severe dehydration. As infection can lead to vomiting and explosive watery diarrhoea up severe dehydration, appropriate treatment to10 times a day. There is no blood in the stools should be instituted early. Standard oral but it may be mucoid in about 20% of the rehydration therapy is successful in mild to patients. The illness usually lasts about 3-9 moderate but IV fluid replacement may be days but may be prolonged up to 2-3 weeks. As required for patients who are severely many as 50% of the infections can be dehydrated or are unable to tolerate oral subclinical. therapy because of frequent vomiting. Antibiotics and antimotility agents should be Children with rotavirus are more likely to have avoided. watery diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and dehydration Prevention when compared with children with diarrhoea due to other pathogens. A majority of children Two types of live, attenuated vaccines are (63%) present with a combination of fever, available. Both are liquid, oral vaccines. One is vomiting, and diarrhea. However, children may a human monovalent vaccine (RV1) against present with any 2 or even only 1 of these G1P[8] and the other is a bovine-human reassortant pentavalent vaccine (RV5) against symptoms. G1-4 and P[8]. However, both vaccines give Immunity cross immunity to other genotypes of rotavirus. Both are administered orally. The vaccine will The primary infection which occurs around 3 prevent about 74-87% of all rotavirus months of age, is the most likely to cause gastroenteritis, >80% of severe cases, and severe gastroenteritis with dehydration. This about 95-100% of hospitalizations due to confers protection for rotavirus gastroenteritis in rotavirus. 77% of patients and against severe gastroenteritis in 87% of patients. The primary The Human monovalent vaccine is a lyophilised infection confers homotypic immunity and vaccine which has to be reconstituted with a subsequent infections confer a broader, diluent. The dose is 1 mL given orally at 2 and heterotypic immunity. 4 months of age. The minimum age for the first dose is 6 weeks and the minimum interval Laboratory Diagnosis between the doses is 4 weeks. The second dose should be given before 6 months of age. Illness caused by rotavirus is difficult to distinguish clinically from that caused by other The Bovine-human reassortant pentavalent enteric viruses. The nature of diarrhoea and vaccine is a liquid vaccine. The dose is 2 mL susceptible age might give an indication to the given orally at 2, 4 and 6 months. The minimum causative agent. Because large quantities of age for first dose is 6 weeks and should be virus are shed in feces, the diagnosis can given between 6 -12 weeks of age. The usually be confirmed by EIAs and other minimum interval between the doses is 4 weeks. All 3 doses should be administered component of the vaccine, severe before 8 months of age. immunodeficiency including severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and moderate or Rotavirus vaccines can be given simultaneously severely illness. This includes children who with other childhood vaccines including DTaP, have acute, moderate to severe gastroenteritis. Hib, IPV, Hepatitis B, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and OPV. There is no restriction on The adverse effects are mild, with diarrhoea, breast feeding or other liquid milk, before or vomiting, otitis media and nasopharyngitis as after vaccination. the common side effects.

Contraindications to the rotavirus vaccine include life-threatening allergy to any There is a low risk of intussusception with both vaccines (1-5 cases/100,000 infants). The manufacturers recommend that the vaccine is contraindicated in children with a history of intussusceptions or an abnormality of the gastro-intestinal tract which can predispose to intussusception (eg. Meckel’s diverticulum).

Dr Geethani Galagoda MBBS, Dip. (Med. Micro), MD Consultant Virologist, Medical Research Institute, Colombo

The International year of Light And Light based technologies

The United Nations decided on 20th December 2013 that the year 2015 be declared as the International Year of Light and Light based Technologies. International year of light is a global initiative which will highlight to the citizens of the world, the importance of light and optical technologies for their lives, their futures and for the development of the society. It is a unique opportunity to inspire educate and also get together on a global scale.

Why light matters unnecessary usage which amounts to “light Light is necessary for the existence of life itself Pollution’. and many applications of light have Why 2015 revolutionized society through medicine, communications, entertainment and culture. The year 2015 has not just been randomly Light and Photonics are poised to become key selected as the IYOL; this year marks a number enabling technologies of the future. It is stated of significant anniversaries in the history of that in the 21st century, Photonics would play the Optics and Photonics: role played by Electronics in the 20th century.  1000 years since Ibn Al-Haytham wrote his Book of Optics, covering color, Learn about light visual perception, reflection and Light is everywhere. It assists in our daily refraction activities and provides us with entertainment,  200 years since Augustin-Jean security, technological advancement, health Fresnel proposed the idea that light is a wave care and many other benefits. It is possible for  150 years since James Clerk Maxwell us to discover different roles of light and its proposed the electromagnetic theory of applications play in our everyday lives. light propagation  110 years since Albert Einstein Light for Development proposed a quantum explanation for the photoelectric effect There are some interesting facts regarding the  100 years since Einstein proposed his use of light for development and the importance general theory of relativity, embedding of light in various other activities. On one side of light in cosmology. the coin is the 1.5 billion people who are  50 years since Arno Penzias and Robert Woodrow Wilson’s discovery without proper lighting for their day to day of the cosmic microwave background, activities. On the other side are residents of and Charles Kao’s achievements developed countries who are no longer able to concerning the transmission of light in appreciate the beauty of the night sky due to fibers for optical communication illuminations in many cities, which sometimes The launching Ceremony for the IYOL was are unnecessary. On a global sense, it amounts held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to inefficient usage of resources. During the where over 1000 delegates inclusive of six year of Light attempts will be made to attain a Nobel Laureates participated. The Secretary - balance between the lack of lighting and General in a video message stated that Light and Light based Technologies are expected to play a vital role in accelerating sustainable During the year, a long list of activities of varied development by offering practical solutions to nature has been organized to take place in global challenges of the 21st century. many countries throughout the world by the steering committee. These are too many to be Mr. John Dudley the Chairman of the Steering listed here. Further information is available in Committee IYOL 2015 stated that the the IYOL Website. “International Year of Light is a tremendous opportunity to ensure that international Activities are expected to be completed in policymakers and stakeholders are made aware February 2016 in Yucatan, Mexico close to the of the problem-solving potential of light Mayan archaeological site of Chechen Itza technology. We now have a unique opportunity where earliest astronomical observations were to raise global awareness of this.” carried out.

At the opening ceremony there were a series of seminars and other discussions on topics related to Light and Light based technologies. Six Nobel Laureates participated in these seminars.

Seventieth Anniversary of the United Nations

United Nations which was initiated with signing of the United Nations Charter in June 1945 by 51 countries after the end of the second world war was formally established on 24th October 1945 when the Charter came into force after formal approval by member countries . The major objectives as indicated in the Charter of the UN are , maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and fostering worldwide cooperation in solving economic, cultural and humanitarian problems while promoting human rights and fundamental freedom of the people of the world. UN celebrates its seventieth anniversary this year and the Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon in a message on this occasion states: “The 70th anniversary of the United Nations is a timely opportunity to highlight its many and enduring achievements -- and to strengthen our collective resolve to do more to promote peace and security, sustainable development and human rights. Every day, the United Nations makes a positive difference for millions of people: vaccinating children; distributing food aid; sheltering refugees; deploying peacekeepers; protecting the environment; seeking the peaceful resolution of disputes and supporting democratic elections, gender equality, human rights and the rule of law. The challenges of our times transcend borders and require complex solutions reached through negotiation and compromise. The theme of this anniversary year - “Strong UN. Better World” -- captures the importance of multilateralism and the essential role of the United Nations. Only when we work together can we overcome shared threats and seize shared opportunities; only at the United Nations can all countries – large and small, rich and poor – and all people have their voices heard. In our rapidly changing world, the United Nations remains humankind’s invaluable instrument of common progress. Let us use this anniversary to reflect on the lessons of seven decades, and reaffirm our commitment to serve “we the peoples” and build lives of prosperity, security and dignity for all”. Addressing the commemoration ceremony held on the 26th June 2015 in San Francisco where the UN Charter was signed 70 years ago he stated that

The United Nations is the hope and home of all humankind The Charter is our compass. During the anniversary year the UN has embarked on a set of activities which are of paramount importance to the world as a whole, the most significant among them is the plan for adoption of an Agenda for Sustainable Development. Plans are in place for the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Seventeen goals and 169 targets are to be discussed at the General Assembly from 25th to 27th September prior to adoption.

These goals are expected to replace the Millennium Development goals adopted in 2000 and will act as a road map for the development of the world as a whole. In view of the importance of the Development agenda, a detailed study with the title Sustainable Development – the way forward beyond 2015 has been published elsewhere in this Annual.

In addition, there are many other areas that action has been initiated. One such area is financing for Development. Following up on work carried out by conferences held in Monterrey, Mexico in March 2002 and Doha, Qatar in December 2008, the third conference on Financing for Development was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 13th to 16thJuly 2015 . A global Framework for Financing for Development named Addis Ababa Action Agenda was adopted at this conference .The main purpose was to assist in the implementation of the post 2015 Development Agenda by providing the necessary financial support. Two other areas of importance are follow up activities relating to Gender Equality and Climate Change.

Following up on the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action which was developed as a Comprehensive Road Map for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women adopted at Beijing, People’s Republic of China in 1995, a Global Leaders meeting on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment – a Commitment to Action is expected to be held on 27th September 2015 in conjunction with the UN summit for Adoption of the Post 2015 Development Agenda. All participants are expected to commit themselves to the accelerated implementation of Beijing Declaration and the platform for Action and the gender equality goals of the post 2015 Development Agenda.

With regard to climate change, the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) will be held in Paris from 30th November to 11th December 2015(COP21) hosted by the Government of France. The objective of the conference is to achieve a new international agreement on the climate from all the countries of the world .The COP21 secretariat aims at keeping the global warming below 2.◦C . Climate change is a complex issue. However the UN was able to establish the UNFCCC in 1992 after years of negotiations commencing 1979.The Kyoto protocol was established in 1997 in order to legally bind Developed countries to accepted emission targets . Thereafter annual conferences have been held since 1995 but however the progress has not been satisfactory. It would be marvelous if this difficult target can be achieved in this anniversary year.

The year 2015 has been declared as the International year of soil and the International year of Light and Light Based Technology by the UN. Various activities are earmarked by the UN as well as other International bodies linked to the UN during this year.

DRUG DEPENDENCE

A drug is a substance when taken into the living Addiction is characterized by behavioural and organism can modify one or more of its other responses that always include a functions. Drug abuse may be considered as compulsion to take the drug on a continuous or the use of a drug, usually by self-administration, periodic basis in order to experience its psychic in a way different from the approved medical or effects (psychic dependence) and sometimes to social patterns in a given culture. avoid the discomfort of its absence (physical dependence). Non-medical use of drugs can be for experimentation, recreational use or for their Substances can be taken into the body in helpful effects, which are not medically several ways. Oral ingestion (swallowing), approved. inhalation (breathing in) or smoking, injection into the veins (shooting up) , and depositing The morbidity from drugs can be due to direct onto the mucosa (moist skin) of the mouth or physical or mental pharmacological effects, nose (snorting) are the methods used by drug consequences of the methods used, and the addicts. effects of dependence and abstinence. Sportsmen have abused a variety of agents, Drug dependence is a state characterized by an such as male hormones and steroids, to overpowering desire or need (compulsion) to enhance muscle mass or improve athletic continue taking the drug and to obtain it by any ability. They have also abused amphetamines means is considered drug addiction. It is to make them feel stronger and to mask pain. sometimes accompanied by physical This will enable them to continue to play even dependence and the resulting state is with injuries. Drug use among sportsmen is still detrimental not only to him, but also to the a problem even in Sri Lanka as reported society. recently.

There are many addictive or dependence producing drugs. They include,  Alcohol and barbiturate type drugs  Khat type  Amphetamine, methamphetamine (Ecstasy)  Opiates (heroin) and anti-obesity drugs  Volatile solvents  Cannabis  Benzodiazepines, methaqualone and similar  Cocaine drugs  Hallucinogens (LSD, certain mushrooms)  Tobacco products

People abuse drugs for a number of different reasons.

The most common reason is to "get high." Alcohol has been produced by humans over Adolescents can become involved in 12000 years! Alcohol causes impaired experimentation with drugs. Fortunately, only a judgment, decreased inhibitions, coma and small percentage of people who experiment even death. Effects vary according to body size, with drugs become drug abusers. The desire to amount consumed, time frame of consumption, “get high” can be for many reasons. Pressures previous use and pre-existing illnesses. of coping with school, work, or family tensions Consumption of alcohol with certain drugs like and underlying disease such as depression can barbiturates and diazepam can be fatal. lead to addiction.

Alcohol causes physical and psychological Cannabis without the narcotic content is used in dependence. It affects the liver, heart, the manufacture of Ayurveda (indigenous) pancreas, stomach and the brain. Chronic medical preparations. The Ayurveda medical alcoholism can cause loss of appetite, social practitioners and the Ayurveda Drugs problems and sexual impotence. Alcoholics are Corporation are the largest consumers of it. 205 more prone to be victims of accidents, suicide kg of cannabis were used for Ayurveda and homicide. medicinal purposes in 2009. The Ayurveda Drugs Corporation used cannabis mostly for the Barbiturates are depressants of the brain. It can production of drugs such as madana modakaya cause relief of tension, mental stress and and buddharaja kalkaya. anxiety with positive feelings of pleasure, calmness, and relaxation. Abusers show loss of Cannabis causes euphoria, “high” feeling, motor coordination, decreased self-control, pleasurable state of relaxation, enhancement of slurred speech, impaired judgment, confusion sensory experiences, increased appetite, and drowsiness. Overdose can cause coma, impaired performance, sleepiness, confusion respiratory failure and death. and hallucinations.

Amphetamines have medical uses for attention Cocaine, which is obtained from the plant of deficit disorders, narcolepsy and appetite genus Erythroxylon coca, is available as a suppressant (slimming pills), abuse can cause paste, or “Crack” – hard white rocks or flaky feeling of well-being, euphoria, increased material. Cocaine is smoked, sniffed or injected. alertness and energy, improvement of performance, loss of appetite, sweating, dilated It causes euphoria and alertness and postpones pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure hunger and fatigue. Loss of appetite, violent and bizarre, erratic and violent behaviour. behaviour, hallucinations and paranoid psychosis are the harmful effects of cocaine. It 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine increases the temperature, heart rate and the (MDMA), also known as Ecstasy, increases all blood pressure. pleasurable sensations. Users have feeling of emotional closeness, increased physical and Cocaine abuse leads to perforated nasal emotional energy, restlessness, anxiety and septum, keratitis of the eyes, dental erosions, hallucinations. fits, heart muscle disease, coronary artery disease, liver disease, brain hemorrhages and Its serious health effects are increased heart sudden cardiac death Hallucinogens such as rate and blood pressure, brain damage and liver LSD, mescaline (peyote cactus), psilocybin, a damage. Ecstasy is popular among participants mushroom, cause altered state of of discos in night clubs and users have died consciousness and auditory/visual perceptions suddenly in night clubs. Opiates derived from the plant Papaver Cannabis is obtained from the plant of the somniferum have many alkaloids including genus Cannabis, which has 60 morphine. Heroin is a substance synthesized cannabinoids.Cannabis is the only drug that from morphine. grows in Sri Lanka. It is grown illicitly, mostly in the dry zones of the country (in the Eastern and Opium is used in the Ayurveda (indigenous) Southern provinces). The estimated land area medical pharmacopeia and the government under cannabis cultivation is nearly 500 makes it available to Ayurveda Medical hectares. Practitioners through Government Hospitals.

Among the heroin users in Sri Lanka, inhalation Drug abuse impairs family life, results in (“chase the dragon”) is the preferred mode of unproductive employment and reduces the administration. Diazepam, lactose, sucrose, quality of life. Impaired performance at work can acetaminophen and caffeine are the commonly lead to poor productivity and reduced income. used adulterants of heroin. Absence from work and intoxication at work can lead to disciplinary problems, accidents at work Heroin causes a sense of well-being, euphoria, and excess medical claims. It is very contentment, detachment from unfortunate that young drug addicts face emotional/physical distress and pain relief. It premature death. can cause drowsiness, lack of concentration, respiratory depression and even death. The cost to the health services and the Addiction to heroin causes serious withdrawal economy of the country can be significant. symptoms when heroin is not present in blood. While illicit cultivation, production, distribution Addicts experience anxiety, restlessness, and possession of drugs are crimes, drug sweating, yawning, runny nose, watering of the abusers commit crimes for money and after eyes, diarrhoea, incontinence of urine, influence of drugs. Drug trade is involved with abdominal pains, muscle cramps, hallucinations money laundering. Drug trafficking leads to all and delusions. types of crime, violence, gun use and even terrorism. In Sri Lanka heroin is mostly inhaled. This is Monetary costs from theft and other crimes by much less harmful than intravenous injection. abusers to support their drug habits, and money Intravenous drug addicts are more prone to get spent for law enforcement agencies and the infections. judiciary can be significant.

They die prematurely from acute heroin Many recommendations are made to prevent overdose, inhalation of vomit, acute ulcerative and treat drug abuse. Return to old family endocarditis, bronchopneumonia and hepatitis. values in the society is one. There should be They are more likely meet with accidents and adjustment to accept the return of a family commit suicide. member who was a drug abuser. Families counselling for change, informing and educating The impact of drug abuse on the individual, his parents and support and strengthen religious family and on the society is very significant. The values are also recommended. family and the community can be the origin of drug problems, but they can also be a potent As Kofi Annan, a former UN Secretary-General force for treatment. The disrupted family life can said, “Illicit drugs destroy innumerable individual lead to drug problems, while drug problems can lives and undermine our societies. Confronting lead to disruption of family life. the illicit trade in drugs and its effects remains a major challenge for the international Drug abuse is common among poor families, community.” while a drug abuser in a family makes them poorer.

Professor Ravindra Fernando Senior Professor of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, and Acting Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights, Faculty of Law University of Colombo BEST UNA STUDY CIRCLES IN 2014 / 2015

01st Place - Mt/Christ Church College, Matale.

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02nd Place - St. Thomas College, Matale.

1st row from left to right M.A.V. Madushanka Marasinghe (President), P.K.S.P. Gunasekara, W.M.D.T.P. Wanasinghe(Principal), D.R. Weerakoon (Teacher In Charge), R.M.U.G.A.K. Rathnayake, D.M.W.C.B. Dasanayake (Secretary).

2nd row from left to right L.D.I.L. Priyantha, T.R. Udagedara, M.L. Dissanayake, Y.N.B. Weerabahu, P.G.S.C. Ariyaratne, P.S. Dissanayake, P.M. Rathnayake, Praveen Weerabahu, M. Shafri,M.I.B. Elangasinghe

BEST UNA STUDY CIRCLES IN 2014 / 2015

03rd Place - Halpathota Roman Catholic School, Baddegama.

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04th Place - B/Sri Dewananda Central College, Mirahawatta.

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BEST UNA STUDY CIRCLES IN 2014 / 2015

05th Place - G/ Richmond Collage, Galle.

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Best teachers-in-charge of the winning schools

01st Place - M. Z. M. Reza Mt/Christ Church College, Matale.

02nd Place - D. Renuka Weerakoon St. Thomas College, Matale.

03rd Place - N. G. Sadani Halpathota Roman Catholic School, Baddegama.

04th Place - W. M. Chithra Kumari B/Sri Dewananda Central College, Mirahawatta.

05th Place - R. H. Priyadarshani G/ Richmond Collage, Galle.

WINNERS OF SPEECH CONTEST - 2015

01st Place - Dunya Jayamani Jayasekara Vishaka Vidyalaya, Colombo 05.

02nd Place - D. M. Rishmi Tharushika Dissanayaka Kg/ Swarna Jayanthi Maha Vidyalaya, Kegalle

03rd Place - I. G. K. Dananjana Wijethunga Mt/Christ Church College, Matale.

04th Place - Ravindu Iddamalgoda Sri Chandananda Buddhist College, Kandy

05th Place - A. M. Mohan Maduwantha B/Sri Dewananda Central College, Mirahawatta

WINNERS OF General Knowledge CONTEST - 2015

01st Place - Hasith Jayanaka Abeygunawardena G/ Richmond College, Galle

02nd Place - W. G. Vimukthi Rangana Wijewickrama Kg/ St. Joseph’s Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kegalle

03rd Place - B. S. Anjana Senadeera Vishaka Vidyalaya, Colombo 05.

04th Place - Shashin Arunoda Punchihewa B/Sri Dewananda Central College, Mirahawatta

05th Place - Naveen Sampath Nawarathna Kg/ Swarna Jayanthi Maha Vidyalaya, Kegalle

WINNERS OF EASSY WRITING CONTEST - 2015

01st Place - Tharindi Dilara Pilapitiya Vishaka Vidyalaya, Colombo 05.

02nd Place - D. B. Amanda Sewmini Gothami Girl’s College, Kandy

03rd Place - A. D. Kaushalya Thathsarani B/Sri Dewananda Central College, Mirahawatta

04th Place - R. A. U. Ardithya Ranasinghe Maliyadewa Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kurunegala

05th Place - K. D. H. Ashan Devinda De Silva G/ Richmond College, Galle

United Nations Association of Sri Lanka

Registered Office National Secretariat, 39/1, Cyril Jansz Mawatha, Panadura Sri Lanka Tel/Fax: 0094-2232123/0094-2243080/ 0094-2232110 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.unasl.org