Sri Lanka backs Palestine bid for UNESCO membership

(November 02, Paris, Sri Lanka Guardian) In keeping with its longstanding advocacy, Sri Lanka reaffirmed its support for Palestinian nationhood at the 36th session of the General Conference of UNESCO at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Minister of National Heritage, Dr. Jagath Balasuriya, while delivering Sri Lanka’s country statement to the General Conference on 29th October 2011, stated that Sri Lanka strongly supports the membership of Palestine in UNESCO which would enable the country to reap the benefits of UNESCO’s initiatives in the spheres of education, science and culture.

He further stated that “Sri Lanka believes that the people of Palestine should be given a just and durable solution to their longstanding demand, which in turn, could influence the rest of the world. As such, it is the whole world that will stand to benefit.”

Palestine’s entry will bring the number of UNESCO Member States to 195.