Online Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Statement by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena Foreign Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Friday, 09 October 2020
Online Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Statement by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena
Foreign Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Friday, 09 October 2020
Hon. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Sri Lanka is pleased to participate at this meeting today. 2020 marks the 65th anniversary of the historic Bandung Conference which gave birth to the Non-Aligned Movement. As a founding Member of the NAM Sri Lanka has been honoured to see the Movement grow, participating in its deliberations over the years.
Sri Lanka reaffirms its commitments to the ten underlying principles of the Bandung Conference which serves as the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement and reflect the common challenges and goals.
Hon. Chairman,
The Bandung Conference and successive developments, emerging through these principles, united our countries to end colonialism, Opposing foreign intervention, aggression, foreign occupation, domination and to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, while recognizing the equality of all nations, both large and small has been our commitment.
Today, the NAM comprises a near two-thirds of the Member States of the United Nations, and over half of the world’s population being the largest group of states having a pivotal role in ensuring and safeguarding the principles of multilateralism.
