United Nations: Sri Lanka today (Sep 12, 2004) strongly supported India's candidature for permanent membership of the expanded UN Security Council, saying New Delhi along with Brazil, Germany and Japan fulfil the objective criteria for taking its place on the powerful body.

"We take note that four countries - Brazil, Germany, India and Japan - will announce their participation in a compact in terms of which they will collectively support their respective candidatures for permanent status in an expanded Security Council," President Chandrika Kumaragunga told the 191-member UN General Assembly.

"Sri Lanka supports their candidatures, as each of them complies with one or more of the objective criteria applicable to the expansion of the permanent membership of the Security Council," she said. Kumaratunga also called on Africans to reach a consensus on the issue, saying that they must find representation among the permanent members when the final determination is reached on the "future" composition of the Council.

Kumaratunga said the Council as presently constituted does not reflect the current geo-political realities. "Reform has to be comprehensive and should not be confined to the question of enlargement of the Security Council alone. However, we share the concern over the lack of progress on the question of equitable regional representation and the increase in the membership of the Security Council, in both the permanent and non permanent categories," she added.

She said most of the member States, particularly the developing countries, had consistently urged that the composition of the council be broadened to accommodate the basic principles of democratic representation. "This includes adequate representation of developing countries," she said.

"In this context, we observe that Asia, the most populous continent that is home to expanding economic powerhouses is grossly under-represented in the present Council." She also called for a larger and more active role for the General Assembly as a "deliberative and decision-making body."

Kumaratunga said she looked forward to the recommendations to be presented to the current session of the General Assembly.