The common reaction of most of the delegations that heard the speech delivered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the 66th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, was that it embodied values and attitudes that go far beyond Sri Lanka, says External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris.

“Of course he was speaking for Sri Lanka as the leader of Sri Lanka.” That was the primary focus and emphasis, he pointed out.

However the President’s speech had a broader significance, because it articulated ideas and perceptions that were common to the entire developing world, said the Minister who was part of the President’s delegation to New York.

“So it was regarded as the voice of the developing world.”

“And that comment was made to us by many delegations.” he asserted in an exclusively interview to Ada Derana from New York.

President Mahinda Rajapaksaa addressed the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday (September 23) touching on several important topics pertaining to the island nation.

There is no need to be confrontational or to be aggressive, all that is required in a very calm reflective manner to present the facts relating to the Sri Lankan situation, Minister Peiris explained of the composed manner in which the gathering was addressed by the President.

And that was done in the most effective way possible and we are very pleased with what leaders of other countries had to say about President Rajapaksa’s presentation, he added.

“He was congratulated by many world leaders yesterday and there is no doubt that (the speech) made a profound impact on the very distinguished gathering that he addressed in the general assembly.” G.L. Peiris told the Ada Derana representative in New York.