President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who left the island last morning to attend the 76th regular session of the United Nations General Assembly has landed in New York.
The President’s Media Division said President Rajapaksa and the Lankan delegation were received by the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Mohan Peiris.
President Rajapaksa is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
This is President Rajapaksa’s first visit as the Head of State and will also be the first occasion in addressing the UN General Assembly.
The President’s Media Division said President Rajapaksa will hold bilateral discussions with several world leaders during the visit.
President Rajapaksa is also expected to make statements during the UN Food Systems Summit on the 23rd of September and at the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy on the 24th of September.
Foreign Minister GL Peiris, President’s Principal Advisor Lalith Weeratunga and Foreign Secretary Jayantha Colombage are accompanying the President to New York.
The 76th session of the UN General Assembly opened on the 14th of September while the General Debate will take place from the 21st of September to the 27th of September.
Due to the global pandemic, the size of delegations allowed into the General Assembly Hall will be limited, and UN Member States were encouraged to provide pre-recorded statements in lieu of traveling to UN Headquarters.
Over 100 Heads of State or Government are expected to attend in person.
The theme for this year’s General Debate is ‘Building Resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations.’
US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other world leaders are due to address the week-long General Debate.
