Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I bring warm greetings from Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the President of Sri Lanka, to the distinguished gathering, representing the governments and relevant organizations present at this important Special Session. Her Excellency, who is also the current Chairperson of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation, wishes to express her firm commitment to the global effort in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, which has become a threat to the very existence of mankind. Her Excellency endorses the United Nations' Organization addressing the problems of HIV in all its aspects and regrets her inability to attend this Special Session due to National commitments.

Sri Lanka, although a low prevalent country, has many factors to fuel an epidemic of HIV/AIDS if appropriate action is not taken to thwart such a disaster. Fifty five percent of our population is in the sexually active group. The problems of internal and external migration and displacement either for employment or on account of the ongoing conflict, narcotics usage, poverty and ignorance in some sectors are some of these potential contributory factors.

As you are aware, the epidemic that devastated Africa has risen its head in Asia with the same trends that were initially observed in Africa. Some of our neighboring countries are already confronting epidemic proportions of the disease. `Prevention' is one of the main themes of this Assembly, and unless we wake up to this challenge, we would soon be facing the repercussions of this disease, that our African brethren are facing today.

The Government of Sri Lanka is deeply committed to this cause. My Ministry in collaboration with the Ministries of Media, Education, Defense, Tourism and Social Services, along with the support of Non Governmental Organizations is making a valiant effort to act on all aspects of this disease. Especially targeting the most vulnerable groups in the tourist sector, sex workers, migrant workers, armed forces, the poor, the youth and drug users.

Legislative enactments on blood policy, and regulation of private blood banks to ensure blood safety have already been undertaken. The government has taken steps to train all relevant sectors as an ongoing process, with continuous efforts to improve the infrastructure to effectively implement this program.

Social marketing of condoms, use of anti-retroviral drugs on a limited scale with the assistance of non governmental organizations and human rights aspects are some of the issues the government has already addressed.

Being aware of the global devastation caused by this disease that transcends all social, political, religious and ethnic barriers, I cannot be complacent, although we are yet classified as a low-prevalent country. We have learnt at the cost of great loss to humanity the importance of preventing this disease.

Preventing vulnerable groups into the sex trade by the alleviation of poverty program `Samurdhi', ensuring quality education to all, life competency skills as well as relevant vocational training of the vulnerable groups and youth is a daunting challenge to the government, and are areas that would need International assistance.

I would like to highlight another crucial area of `Care Support and Treatment' addressed as an important issue at this gathering. The costs of anti-retroviral therapy as well as diagnostics create boundaries of discrimination between the rich and the poor. As a Human Rights issue afflicting those millions in the poorer countries and the unborn child, I urge the United Nations to seriously address the issue of provision of drugs and diagnostics at an affordable price to those countries that are less fortunate.

Let us work together to forge a strong dynamic and a sustainable partnership to fight this deadly disease in our region. Therefore Mr. President, I propose that United Nations extends further assistance in establishing an Asian AIDS & Health Fund and an Asian Partnership against HIV/AIDS. The stakeholders of this partnership should be the Asian governments, the UN, the Donors and relevant groups including Non Governmental Organizations. A partnership based on mutual agreement, shared vision, common goals and trust. Every effort should be undertaken to curtail the spread of HIV, leading to reverse its course. This would reduce human suffering and assist in social and economic development in Asia.

Finally, let me quote His Excellency Kofi Annan whom I was privileged to listen to, at the recent World Health Assembly. "Let us rise above turf battles and doctrinal disputes. The battle against AIDS is too important for us to risk side-tracking it by championing one institution against others. Only the results should matter, and the only acceptable result is that we replace suffering with hope".

This special session is a noble endeavor. May I, on behalf of Sri Lanka, wish it every success.

I thank you Mr. President