• This is his first address to the UN General Assembly

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly to be commenced on September 21 in New York with a small delegation of four members, a statement from the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

This is a clear deviation from the past practices of sending large presidential entourages to the UN at state expense. The PMD said First Lady Ioma Rajapaksa would attend the event at her own personal expense. This is the President’s first address to the United Nations General Assembly and also the first foreign conference to take part outside of the country.

The President is expected to hold bilateral discussions with several Heads of State on a number of areas including economic, education and agriculture during the visit. Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage will accompany the President during the visit. The President has decided to undertake the visit with a least number of delegates in line with his principle and after taking into consideration the current situation in the country.