Sri Lanka_ All 193 member states of the United Nations (UN) have unanimously elected Sri Lanka as a Vice President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. (UNGA)
The UN announced Sri Lanka’s appointment for the Asia Pacific States alongside the Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia, Singapore, and Uzbekistan.
Among the 21 states elected as Vice Presidents for the upcoming UNGA are Morocco, Bolivia, Congo, Estonia, Gambia, Iceland, Malaysia, Iran, Senegal, Singapore, Suriname, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia and the Netherlands.
The United Nations General Assembly follows a format as follows: six representatives from the African States, five Vice Presidents from the Asia Pacific States, one appointment for the East European States, two Vice Presidents from the Latin American and Caribbean States and two representatives from Western Europe and other states with the inclusion of the five permanent members of the Security Council.
Accordingly, the Vice presidents appointed for African States will include Congo, Gambia, Morocco, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia while Suriname will hold the post of Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean States. Similarly, Estonia has been appointed as Vice President for the Eastern European States and the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Vice Presidents were also announced for Iceland, the Kingdom of the Netherlands for Western European, and other states.
Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, Mohan Peiris, will take on the role on behalf of the Asia Pacific Region from September 2023 to September 2024.
The appointment as Vice President for the Asia Pacific region at the 78th UNGA will reflect positively on Sri Lanka, as the country will have an important role in carrying out duties such as presiding over meetings and committees when the need arises and setting the agenda and proceedings of the UNGA.
This active role will also create a pathway for Sri Lanka to strengthen bilateral relations with other member states and regions.
