The National Shoora Council (NSC) has praised President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for what it described as a “courageous and principled” address at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2025, covering both national and global concerns.
In a letter dated September 28, the NSC said the President’s speech highlighted issues that deserve “positive acknowledgement by all Sri Lankans.” Among them were poverty, the global drug menace, misuse of resources on wars and weapons, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the Palestinians’ right to statehood, racism and extremism, and the importance of ensuring equal rights for all Sri Lankan citizens.
The NSC said it was particularly moved by the President’s forthright emphasis on fighting poverty, drugs, and racism, while also commending his “clear articulation of Sri Lanka as a multicultural and multi-religious society that embraces diversity as strength.”
On the Gaza issue, the NSC highlighted the President’s recognition of what he termed “Israel’s genocide in Palestine” and his urgent call for global action: “Your heartfelt concern and call for an immediate ceasefire before a global audience will be remembered for a long time,” the Council stated.
The NSC concluded that President Dissanayake’s UN address had “substantially elevated Sri Lanka’s standing and reputation before the international community.”
Full Text of the Statement:
MEDIA RELEASE (by NSC – Rasheed M Imthiyaz Gen Sec NSC Contact No:0777314207
National Shoora Council (NSC) commends President Dissanayake’s UN speech covering key national and global issues
The National Shoora Council (NSC) has conveyed its appreciation to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for “your courageous and principled address delivered on 24th September 2025, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, covering key national and global issues.
Referring to several notable matters in the President’s address to the global audience and their leaders, NSC in its letter dated 28th September 2025, has highlighted the following from the President’s UN speech “which require positive acknowledgement by all Sri Lankans”:
- POVERTY; “Even as we gather here, in the countries we represent, including in my own, children are suffering from hunger. Globally, nearly one in eleven people go to bed hungry every night. ..And one in six children live in extreme poverty globally.
- DRUGS & CRIMES: “Drugs and organized crime linked to drugs constitute our newest problem facing our world. Drug trafficking mafias are turning entire states into their hunting grounds. I request all of you to join in the campaign against this most dangerous menace.”
- WEAPONS & WARS: “In a world where millions of children die of hunger we spend millions on weapons. When tens of millions die of inadequate health facilities, hundreds of millions are spent on useless wars. While hundreds of thousands of children are denied the right to an education, millions are spent on invading other’s lands.”
- CATASTROPHE IN GAZA: “Gaza has been turned into a concentration camp full of pain and suffering, echoing with the cries of children and innocent civilians. The United Nations has accepted that a genocide is being committed in Gaza. …end the war through an immediate ceasefire. We are deeply distressed by the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza.”
- PALESTINIANS’ RIGHT TO THEIR OWN STATE: “We recognize the Palestinian peoples’ inalienable right to their own State. Both (Israel and Palestine) sides must get together to implement the UN mandated two States solution, setting up two neighbouring States along the 1967 borders. The time has come for the international community to cease being a spectator and move decisively to end the suffering of millions.”
- RACISM & EXTREMISM: I believe that we must awaken to our consciences to oppose racism and religious extremism in the protection of human rights and freedoms. Though slavery has been abolished, the poison of racism lingers in places. Extremist and racist ideas are as deadly as epidemics.”
- EQUAL RIGHTS TO ALL CITIZENS: “I would like to remind you that at the last election, Sri Lankan people decided in favour of a centuries-old dream. A myriad legislature was born of that decision, reflecting the ethnic and religious diversity of the country…. We are committed to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all our citizens.”
The NSC’s letter states, “We are appreciative of Your Excellency’s clear articulation of the character of Sri Lanka as a multicultural and multi-religious society that embraces diversity as a source of strength rather than division. This message of inclusivity and coexistence resonates particularly strongly with organizations like ours that represent the diverse fabric of our society.
“We further wish to commend your forthright emphasis on the critical fight against poverty and the drug menace as insidious forces that fundamentally undermine the fabric of our society and significantly impede our collective progress towards prosperity.
“Your clear reference to what is well known as “Israel’s genocide in Palestine”, and the very grave injustices endured by the Palestinian people demonstrates our nation’s steadfast commitment to humanitarian values and the sacred protection of human dignity. Your heartfelt expression of concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and your powerful call for immediate ceasefire and action before a global audience will be remembered for a long time.
“Your inspiring message delivered at the UN General Assembly has substantially elevated our country’s standing and reputation before the international community. (End)
