President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

This year’s session is scheduled to open on September 14 in New York, United States. The high-level general debate will subsequently take place from September 21 – September 27.

The main policy-making organ of the of the UN meets in regular sessions from September to December each year, and thereafter as required. It discusses specific issues through dedicated agenda items or sub-items, which lead to the adoption of resolutions.

This is President Rajapaksa’s first address to the UN General Assembly and also the first foreign conference he is attending outside of the country, the PMD added.

The President is expected to hold bilateral discussions with several Heads of State on a number of areas including economic, education and agriculture during the visit.

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage will accompany the President during the visit.

The President has decided to undertake the visit with a minimum number of delegates in line with his principle and after taking into consideration the current situation in the country.

This will be the smallest Sri Lankan delegation to attend the United Nations General Assembly in recent history, according to the PMD.

First Lady Ioma Rajapaksa will join the visit at her own expense, the statement read further.