(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Addressing the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held from 5–6 July 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya joined other NAM Ministers in the call for substantial reform of NAM for its continuation as an effective multilateral forum to address contemporary challenges.
Sri Lanka is a co-sponsor of the Bandung Conference of 1955 which serves as the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement and a founding member of the NAM. Today, NAM has evolved as an important partner of the current geopolitical developments with 120 member states.
State Minister Balasuriya held bilateral meetings with Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elnur Mammadov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Do Hung Viet, and Foreign Minister of Nepal Narayan Prakash Saud on the sidelines of the meeting.
He was accompanied by Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Dayani Mendis who also represented Sri Lanka at the Senior Officials Meeting which preceded the Ministerial Meeting.
