Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath to address UN General Assembly on Monday

Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath is scheduled to address the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 28, presenting Sri Lanka’s national statement before the international community.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Minister Herath is scheduled to leave for New York on September 26 to represent Sri Lanka during the High-Level Week of the 81st UN General Assembly.

During his address, the Foreign Minister is expected to present Sri Lanka’s current foreign policy priorities as well as the country’s position on key global issues.

The visit is also expected to include a series of bilateral and multilateral engagements, with Minister Herath scheduled to hold discussions with foreign ministers from several countries and senior United Nations officials.

The meetings are expected to focus on strengthening Sri Lanka’s cooperation and diplomatic relations with international partners, making the visit an opportunity for the country to engage with key partners beyond its participation in the General Assembly.

As a small state strategically located in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka’s participation in the UN General Assembly also provides a platform to articulate its national interests and its commitment to multilateral cooperation amid increasing geopolitical competition among major powers.

During the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in 2025, Minister Herath also held discussions with international partners covering areas including trade, investment, tourism and engagement with multilateral institutions.

The 81st Session of the UN General Assembly is being held amid a number of major international challenges, including the war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, the Palestinian issue, climate change, rising sea levels, nuclear weapons risks, artificial intelligence and sustainable development.

The High-Level Week of the General Assembly is being held in New York from September 22 to 28 under the theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”

The theme comes against the backdrop of wars and humanitarian crises, climate-related challenges, inequality, rapid technological transformation and declining trust in the multilateral system.

According to the UN programme, discussions during the session will focus on areas including international peace and security, development, climate action, nuclear disarmament and reforms to the multilateral governance system. (Newswire)