Charging that human rights are being used as a tool to implement motivated agendas with no understanding or appreciation of the complexity of issues in the countries concerned, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has made an appeal for the de-politicisation of the UN system. Read More President Rajapaksa made this call when he addressed the 69th United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday 24th September 2014, this is the seventh occasion that the President has addressed the General Assembly.Speaking on the theme Delivering on and Implementing a Transformative Post -2015 Development Agenda, the President noted that while much progress had been achieved towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, multiple challenges remained to be addressed. The President highlighted that countries should focus on eradication of extreme poverty and commit to sustainable development, as they focused on the new post 2015 development agenda.

President Rajapaksa also highlighted the important role the United Nations has played to improve standards of living, eradicate disease, educate children and in peacekeeping; but for the UN to gain the confidence of the world community, it must apply consistent standards, without selectivity or discrimination. He drew attention to the manner in which post-conflict Sri Lanka had become an unfortunate victim of ill-conceived agendas of some, disregarding significant achievements in the past 5 years. The President, drew inspiration from the words of the Buddha who said that the purpose of all human endeavour must be to construct order out of chaos and harmony out of strife and stated that the Government remained committed to its objective of pursuing the processes of reconciliation, and nation building, undeterred by ill-motivated criticism.