‘Poverty is a terrible enemy with many faces, & In a world of innovation, children still go hungry’

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called on world leaders to recognize poverty and inequality as global catastrophes demanding urgent and unified action.

“Poverty, a tragedy as old as human civilisation, continues to cast an oppressive shadow on our future,” he said, urging the Assembly to prioritize the eradication of extreme poverty as a moral and strategic imperative.

President Dissanayake highlighted the multifaceted nature of poverty, describing it as a “terrible enemy with many faces.” He painted a stark picture of the present, where children across the globe suffer from hunger and are denied access to education, despite international recognition of education as a fundamental right.

“In a world that boasts of technological advancement, how can there still be children without access to education?” he asked, emphasizing that education is the foundation of every great nation and a critical investment in global progress.

He also drew attention to the crippling debt burdens faced by low-income countries, noting that many spend twice as much on debt servicing than on education or healthcare, leaving millions trapped in cycles of poverty.

Referencing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, President Dissanayake reminded delegates of the global pledge to “leave no one behind,” and called for renewed commitment to its goals, which have been hindered by wars, political upheavals, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Representing Sri Lanka, he acknowledged the country’s small size but affirmed its determination to fight poverty for the sake of future generations. “The time has come for us to accept inequality and poverty as a global catastrophe—and act accordingly,” he concluded.