Official website for top UN post contender
[February 28, 2006 - 10.00 GMT]

An official website for Jayantha Dhanapala, nominee of the Sri Lankan government for the post of UN Secretary General, was launched yesterday at the Institute of International Relations in Colombo.

www.jayanthadhanapala.com is aimed at making information regarding Sri Lanka’s contender for the top UN post more accessible. His credentials, his views, his writings and statements are available on this website.

Jayantha Dhanapala has had a distinguished career spanning the private sector, government, the United Nations and academia since1962.

He was hand picked by Kofi Annan to take on the challenging job of Under Secretary General to re-establish the Department of Disarmament after the UN reforms of 1997 (1998–2003). During his tenure he piloted the UN role in arresting the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, anti-personnel landmines, conventional weapons, and weapons of mass destruction while reinforcing existing norms and norm-building in other areas.

67-year-old Dhanapala is currently a senior advisor to the President. He functioned as Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process till the end of November 2005 when he relinquished duties to devote more time to bid for the post of Secretary General of the United Nations.

Present UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s term ends December this year. The successor will be chosen from among the nominees by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.

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Last Updated Date: February 28, 2006 - 10.00 GMT