Security Council: SL to back bids of India and Japan for permanent member status

27 September 2022 03:16 pm - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday said Sri Lanka government will back the bids of India and Japan for permanent member status at the UN Security Council.

President Wickremesinghe is currently in Japan to attend the state funeral of the former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.

During a meeting with Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Tuesday, Wickremesinghe "appreciated the support extended by Japan (to Sri Lanka) on the international stage and expressed the government's willingness to support both Japan's and India's campaign to become permanent members of the UN Security Council, the President's office said in a press release.

India has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the Security Council saying it rightly deserves a place as a permanent member of the UN body, which in its current form does not represent the geo-political realities of the 21st century.

At present, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries which are elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France and the US and these countries can veto any substantive resolution. There has been growing demand to increase the number of permanent members to reflect the contemporary global reality.

India is currently halfway through the second year of its two-year term as an elected non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

India's tenure at the Council will end in December when the country will also preside as President of the powerful UN organ for the month.

On Saturday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, addressing the General Debate of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, emphasised that India is prepared to take up greater responsibilities.

The call for reformed multilateralism with reforms of the Security Council at its core enjoys considerable support among UN members, he said.

"It does so because of the widespread recognition that the current architecture is anachronistic and ineffective. It is also perceived as deeply unfair, denying entire continents and regions a voice in a forum that deliberates their future," Jaishankar said.

Meanwhile, President Wickremesinghe's office said Japan has expressed willingness to take a lead role in Sri Lanka's debt restructuring, which is vital for the island's bid to gain a bailout facility from the International Monetary Fund.

The IMF had expressed readiness to enter a staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka conditional to debt restructuring.

In mid-April, Sri Lanka declared its international debt default due to the forex crisis. The country owes USD 51 billion in foreign debt, of which USD 28 billion must be paid by 2027.

The IMF does not lend to countries whose debt is deemed unsustainable, requiring Sri Lanka to undertake an upfront comprehensive debt treatment.

Both India and Japan are major creditors of Sri Lanka, besides China and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Sri Lanka is banking on Japan to organise a debt restructuring conference on its behalf.

Wickremesinghe has also indicated that he was keen to revive halted Japanese projects in Sri Lanka, officials said.(PTI)

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Comments - 9

Auctioneer Tuesday, 27 September 2022 03:34 PM

For SL's support how many Dollars will India and Japan offer as donations ?

Mizaru Tuesday, 27 September 2022 05:01 PM

Clutching at every straw hoping for financial assistance. This will not happen as the whole world knows the reason for Sri Lanka is not due to a natural disaster. It was man made by unprecedented looting. Even the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was looted and no one was punished. It the international community just pours money it will be looted by our patriots. Luckily we are traitors and do not even steal a cent.

Silva Tuesday, 27 September 2022 05:29 PM

This security council thing is going on for last 35 years and nothing will change. Because China don't like Japan or Indian enter, Russian don't like Germany or Japan enter, USA don't want any Middle East or South America to enter. So full stop.

No to UNHRC Tuesday, 27 September 2022 06:32 PM

The permanent member status at the UN Security Council is greatly powerful and we have two allies in already with China and Russia. Japan especially is a nobody, no nuclear weapon or nuclear powered ship even. India is the greatest military threat to us. They also speak against us at UN HCR. Worst to them, and wish for the many states within to succeed for independence so India breaks up!

Common sense Tuesday, 27 September 2022 07:50 PM

At last Sri Lanka has woken up. It’s high time India be a permanent member of the UN SECURITY COUNCIL

Kumar Tuesday, 27 September 2022 09:41 PM

World's biggest democracy should be a permanent member of the UN. They have nukes too, if that is a prerequisite.

Ari Tuesday, 27 September 2022 09:44 PM

Having these two Asian countries in the security council will benefit Sri Lanka and other Asian nations in general since they will take into account the interests of the overall Asian region in any decision making that impacts the Asian countries, more so than the western nations in the Council who primarily look after their own interests. Also, India as our dominant neibour will need to act and think globally and not be influenced by theTamil Nadu politics when dealing with Sri Lanka.

Nihal Tuesday, 27 September 2022 10:08 PM

It is suicidal for Sri Lanka to back India to join the security council. Then India can do anything it wants and no one would be able to legally control India. This Christian Old Fellow Ranil like all other Converted Christians have no emotional feeling for Sri Lanka.

Navin Wednesday, 28 September 2022 04:12 AM

Delhi the capital of India is called the “ Rape Capital Of The World “, how could such a country be allowed to join the Security Council.

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Security Council: SL to back bids of India and Japan for permanent member status

Comments - 9

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