Special Envoy of President to lead Sri Lanka Delegation to 17th NAM Summit
Special Envoy of President Maithripala Sirisena, Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training will lead the Sri Lanka delegation to the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) being held from 13-18 September in Margarita Island, Venezuela. In addition to the Summit, Minister Samarasinghe will also represent Sri Lanka at the Ministerial segment to be held from 15-16 September 2016. The Sri Lanka Ambassador to Venezuela, resident in Havana and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated at the preceding Senior Officials Meeting from 13-14 September 2016.
Secretary-General’s remarks at event in Sri Lanka on SDG16: Sustaining Peace – Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
It is an honour to be here today to talk about the links between peace and sustainable development.
This is my first visit to Sri Lanka since 2009, when I saw great suffering and hardship. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced and in need of humanitarian aid after the terrible conflict that tore the country apart.
I called for fast reconciliation and action to build peace, in the knowledge that conflict can recur in fragile post-war societies.
Today, the picture is very different. I congratulate the Government and people of Sri Lanka for the progress you have made.&ampampnbsp There remains much hard work ahead, but you have moved with determination along a new path with great promise for all the country’s people.