President Mahinda Rajapaksa is due to address the United Nations General Assembly today (Sep 23).

The 66th Session of the UN General Assembly opened in New York on September 21.

"Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth, these are one and the same fight," said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his opening remarks of the Session.

A large gathering of Heads of State attended the opening session, and Sri Lanka was represented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.