AnniversaryT h 25ASSOCIATION OF FORMER INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS SRI LANKA FAFICS CONTENTS Subject Page No Message From The President of AFICS Sri Lanka - Dr. Nimal Hettiaratchy 03 - 04 Annual Report 2018 - AFICS Sri Lanka - by: M r. K.M.D.Gunaratne 05 - 06 Editors Note- by: Mr. George A Michael 06 - 07 Association of former International Civil Servants (AFICS) 08 - 09 The Tremendous Impact Sri Lankans had in UN, Bretton Wood Initiative and the Commonwealth - by: Dr. Nihal Abeysundere 10 - 11 List of Advertisers, Donors and Wellwishes 11 Tribute to Koffi Annan 12 - 13 Remembering our Founder President - by: Dr. Panduka Wijeyaratne 13 Random Thoughts - by: Dr. Panduka Wijeyaratne 14 - 15 ‘Hope Building’ children’s resource centre - by: Ms. Pramila Gunaratne 16 - 17 Vermillion and Prussian blue by: Ms. Shireen Senadhira 17 AFICS Sri Lanka - by: Dr.Neville Edirisinghe 18 - 19 The global wars against malaria and Sri Lanka’s triumph - by: Prof. Emeritus (Mrs) Kamini Mendis 20 - 24 Pain – An Observation - by: Mr. Hema Dassanayake 25 Obituary 25 Smart, Nature-based Strategies for vibrant health, disease prevention and longevity- by: Mr. Ranjit Senevirathna 26 - 28 Reporting on 47th FAFICS Council held in Rome from 20 to 25 july 2018 - by: Mr. George A Michael 29 - 30 ASHI / ASHIL - Health Care Issues 31 UN Commemoration Day 2018 and AFICS Year End Get-Together 31-32 Speech by Ms Hanaa Singer, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka 34-35 Developmental Activities at UNIDO - by: Deshabandu Emeritus Prof. Tuley de Silva 36-37 Reflections on the Contribution of Microfinance to Financial Inclusion and Poverty Reduction - by: Dr. Nimal A. Fernando 38-44 Small and Mini States and the United Nations System - by: Amb. Dayantha Laksiri Mendis 45-47 Some possible Strategies for Sustainable Climate Smart Agriculture - by: Mr. Ranjit Senevirathna 48-52 How AFICS Sri Lanka was born and it’s beginnings 53-54 Summary of Events / Seminars / Lectures conducted by AFISC Sri Lanka 55-59 AFICS Annual Trip (2018) to the UVA Province - by: Prof. Emeritus (Mrs) Kamini Mendis 60 Widow’s and Widower’s Benefits 61 Emergency E-mail & Phone nos. to UNJSPF and Health Insurance 62 Members list of AFICS Sri Lanka 63-64 Letter From FAFICS Regarding Health Insurance 65 Sponsors 66-68 ASSOCIATION OF FORMER INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS (AFICS-SRI LANKA) NEWSLETTER Volume 08 NO.1 Special Silver Jubilee Edition (2019) BIANNUAL PUBLICATION Honorary President MESSAGE FROM The President of AFICS Sri Lanka, Colombo Dr. Gamani Corea (UNCTAD) Past Presidents Dr. Gamani Corea (1992 - 2000) UNCTAD Mr. Earle Samarasinghe(2001 - 2003) UNESCO “It should extend Dr. Nihal Abeysundere (2004 - 2006) WHO beyond the holding of Dr. Adrian Senadhira (2007 - 2008) WHO meetings and dinners Mr. Ranjit Seneviratne (2009 - 2011) FAO to a role in social and Dr. Panduka Wijeyaratne (2012 - 2017) IDRC Canada, WHO, USAID economic development of the country”. President Dr. Nimal Hettiaratchy (UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP) Dr. Nimal Hettiaratchy (UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP) Vice Presidents Mr. Lalith Godamunne (UNHCR) t is with great pleasure I send this message Dr. Methsiri Gunaratne (WHO) I to all members of AFICS – Sri Lanka and all FAFICS Secretary-General Members at this very special occasion of the Silver Jubilee Mr. K M D Gunaratne Commemoration of AFICS Sri Lanka. Nine thousand five (Commonwealth Secretariat) hundred and ninety days ago AFICS Sri Lanka was born at the Eighty Club, 25 Independence Avenue, Colombo Treasurer Mr. Tilak Dias Abeysinghe (UNHCR) 7 under the parenthood of Dr. Gamani Corea a World Renowned Sri Lankan Economist, Civil Servant, Planner, Social Secretary Towering Intellectual and Diplomat, who has also served as Amb. Laksiri Mendis (UNDTCD) Secretary-General of UNCTAD for a period of consecutive nine years demonstrating stellar performance. As the Editor Founder of AFICS Sri Lanka, in his inaugural address Dr. Mr. Vincent Kumarapelie (UNDP/UNV) Corea while outlining the objectives stated that “It should Committee Members extend beyond the holding of meetings and dinners Dr. Nihal Abeyesundere (WHO) to a role in social and economic development of the Dr. Adrian Senadhira (WHO) country”. Mr. Earle Samarasinghe, Convener and the first Mr. Ranjit Seneviratne (FAO) Secretary-General of AFICS Sri Lanka speaking next, Ms. Grace Jayakody (IMO) Dr. Nimal A Fernando (ADB) stated that the identification of a role for the association Mr. Vitus Fernando (IUCN, ADB, WMO) in national development seemed to be unique for AFICS Mr. Ranjith Withana (UNIDO) Sri Lanka as the other associations seemed to give more Prof. Emeritus Tuley de Silva (UNIDO) emphasis to the promotion of their pensions and privileges. Mr. T S A De Silva (UNCTAD) AFICS Sri Lanka to move on this direction, as a first step Prof. Emeritus (Mrs.) Kamini Mendis (WHO) the creation of a database of the experts available among Mr. Asela Dassanayake (UN-ICTY) Mrs. Jeeva Pillai Essex (UNDP, ADB, WB) the membership of the Association would make it possible Mr. Hema Dassanayake (WHO) to identify the fields in which the Association could assist Mr. George A Michael (WFP, FAO) national and international agencies involved in development AFICS-SRI LANKA projects in Sri Lanka through the provision of experts and advice from its membership. Nimal Hettiaratchy It is in this context, now we have the was born on June 2, 1947 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. unprecedented opportunity to help underprivileged He attended Ananda College Colombo 10. He entered the University of Ceylon in 1966 and completed the humankind in our country as well as other requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree needy countries using our rich experience we in Geography in 1970. He obtained his Diploma in gained while working in various countries during Development Studies from University of Bath, England our service with the United Nations. With the and M.Sc. in Economics in University of Wales UK. He expansion of the UN Development Programmes completed his Ph. D. in Policy Planning at the Cornell during last three decades from World Summit for University, Ithaca, NY, USA. Having taught some Children Goals 1990 to 2000, to Eight Millennium time at Cornell joined the UNICEF as the Chief of the Development Goals from 2000 to 2010 and to Nutrition Section in Lagos, Nigeria and promoted to Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals from UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional office 2015 to 2030 various developmental fields and in Jordan as the Regional Senior Policy Advisor and areas have tremendously increased from child also worked as the Regional Senior Monitoring and health activities to eradicate extreme poverty, to Evaluation Officer. He was borrowed by the UNFPA achieve universal primary education; to promote and appointed as the UNFPA Country Director for the Sudan. During the Darfur War time he was appointed gender equality and empower women; to improve as acting RC/HC for the Sudan. Next he moved to maternal health; to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, India as UNICEF State Representative in Uttar and other diseases; and to ensure environmental Pradesh. Prior to joining the United Nations, he has sustainability. On September 25th 2015, 193 been teaching at University of Peradeniya and then world leaders committed to 17 goals to achieve joined the Sri Lanka Government Planning Service 3 extraordinary things in the next 15 years. End as the Deputy Director of Food and Nutrition Policy extreme poverty. Fight inequality & injustice. Fix Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and climate change. The Global Goals for sustainable Economic Affairs. development could get these things done. In all countries. For all people. In order to reach all these increased number of goals of the United Nations Programmes, UN has launched major changes in the UN systems in the countries and one of the important changes made with effect from 1 January 2019 is to reform the Resident Coordinator System. Sri Lanka is now at this critical juncture with the newly appointed well experienced and dedicated UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Hanaa Singer, who is anxiously waiting to work hand in hand to implement the UN new programme of “Sustainable Development Goals”. For the first time AFICS Sri Lanka was In September 2015, 193 World eaders unani- lucky to have Ms. Hanaa Singer as our Chief Guest mously committed to the 17 Sustainable Development of the UN Commemorative Dinner and in her Goals (SDGs) to achieve extraordinary things by 2030. speech she expressed her expectations to work The new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development call very closely with the AFICS Sri Lanka, consists on all nations to mobilize efforts to end all forms of pov- of a group of high level Sri Lankan experts with erty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change,while rich experience. Thus, the challenge is now to ensuring that no one is left behind. The United Nations strengthen our relationships with the UN and offer in Sri Lanka is working closely with the Goverment and our services for human development as and when people of this country to ensure that these goals can be needed without a fail. May I take this opportunity to achieved. wish all of you very happy, healthy and prosperous future. 4 AFICS-SRI LANKA Annual Report 2018 - AFICS Sri Lanka By the Secretary General Mr. K.M.D.Gunaratne “The General Our next event was the Seminar organized by Committee of Mr.Ranjith Seneviratne on a very special topic: AFICS-felt that in “Smart, Nature-based Strategies for vibrant keeping with present health, disease prevention and longevity” the day needs and subject within the scope of Food and Nutrition requirements our dealing with what we eat today and what would Constitution should be the health implications of our modern food undergo change consumption patterns. After the presentation a while maintaining its Questions and Answers session followed which original objectives was highly appreciated by members and their and decorum.” spouses and friends who were present there.