The United Nations General Assembly elected the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona, as Chair of the Sixth Committee, the top legal body of the General Assembly, for its 68th Session.

Previously he had been overwhelmingly endorsed for the position by the Asia - Pacific Group.

Dr. Kohona is the first Sri Lankan to be elected to chair the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly.

From 1995 to 2005 he was the Head of the UN Treaty Section which discharges the depository function of the UN Secretary-General and is responsible for treaties under Article 102 of the Charter.