COLOMBO, 10 June, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, Sri Lanka congratulated Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid on his election as the President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.

The country said that it looked forward to working with him to furthering the interests and priorities of the Southern region of the world.

On behalf of Sri Lanka, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena extended heartfelt congratulations on his Maldivian counterpart’s election as the President of the 76 Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He said, “Your election as the President of the UN General Assembly as the first from the Maldives, and as only the sixth from a Small! Island Developing State is a testimony to the trust and confidence placed on you by an overwhelming majority of the UN Member States, including Sri Lanka.”

“As a close neighbor and a friend of Maldives, Sri Lanka looks forward to working with you at the 76th Session of the General Assembly, with a view to furthering the interests and priorities of the Global South,” Minister Gunawardena said wishing Abdulla Shahid success in all your endeavors,” he said.

Later, Gunawerdena praised Shahid’s capabilities as an illustrious diplomat.