Nations like SL are caught up between shifting global power dynamics: President

• He pledged to lead Sri Lanka towards sustainable growth, ensuring peace and prosperity for all, with the support of both the nation and the international community

Neutral nations like Sri Lanka in the global South find themselves caught between shifting global power dynamics while poverty and hunger levels are at multi-decade highs, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told United Nations yesterday. 
  
“There’s a stark contrast with the 2030 promise by UN on sustainable development, as poverty and hunger levels are at multi-decade highs,” the President told the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.   

The President said at the UNGA that crises like climate change and pandemics are hampering smaller indebted countries like Sri Lanka from advancing sustainable development goals and climate efforts. “Global power conflicts are adding economic uncertainty, disrupting supply chains and causing inflation, food, and energy insecurity worldwide. Adverse climate impacts affect clean energy, food security, water, and farmers’ livelihoods in Sri Lanka, straining their fiscal recovery from last year’s economic crisis. As a climate-vulnerable, debt-ridden nation, the need for climate finance is urgent. Yet, despite promises, wealthy countries are falling short on their commitments,” the President said.

He pledged to lead Sri Lanka towards sustainable growth, ensuring peace and prosperity for all, with the support of both the nation and the international community.  

The President also stressed that the composition of the security council must be expanded to be representative of current global diversity and decision making. In parallel, he said the role of UNGA must be strengthened and requested that permanent members engage in a credible dialogue which will lead to a unified approach to combat threats ahead of the next sessions.