Sri Lanka assumes Chairmanship of Asia Pacific Group in UNESCO

Sri Lanka was unanimously elected to assume the Chairmanship of the Asia Pacific (ASPAC) Group of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the 1st Plenary Meeting of the Grouping today (25th January 2010).

Having served as Vice Chair and Secretary of the ASPAC Bureau in previous years, Sri Lanka assumed the Chair for the year 2010 from Japan.

At the 1st Plenary Meeting held at the UNESCO headquarters, the outgoing Chair Ambassador Tadamiche Yamamoto of Japan handed over the leadership of the Bureau of ASPAC to Sri Lankan Ambassador Lionel Fernando. In addition the Delegation of Thailand assumed the post of Vice Chairman, while the Delegation of Australia ably assisted by New Zealand assumed the post of Secretary/Treasurer of the regional grouping.

Ambassador Fernando, while noting the valuable contribution made by Japan in steering the regional body over the last year noted that Sri Lanka was assuming the Chair of one of the largest regional groupings at a crucial time in UNESCO as the new Director General was gearing the UN body to face new challenges in 2010 with it new opportunities, opens new vistas and provides prospects for exploring dynamic areas of activity.

He added that ASPAC member countries have a joint responsibility to play a vibrant role in UNESCO so as to ensure that the achievements of the past, serve as a realization of the potential the regional grouping possesses for the years and decades ahead.

ASPAC comprises 24 countries which are represented in Paris and 18 other countries which are represented from elsewhere.

- Asian Tribune -