High Commission of Sri Lanka Welcomes Student Delegation from the University of Pretoria

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pretoria welcomed a delegation of undergraduate students in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Pretoria on 8 October 2025. This marks the third consecutive year that the High Commission has hosted students from one of South Africa’s most prestigious and long-established universities.

The visit aligned with the objectives of UN Resolution 77/336 on the Model United Nations, which promotes youth engagement in multilateralism and international cooperation.

The students will participate in a Model United Nations (MUN) conference at the university on 21 October 2025, representing Sri Lanka in debates on “The Dual-Use Dilemma of Autonomous Systems.” They examined the issue from Sri Lanka’s foreign policy perspective, underscoring the country’s commitment to multilateralism and disarmament.

High Commission officials briefed the delegation on Sri Lanka’s role as a State Party to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its support for negotiating a legally binding instrument on autonomous weapons systems. The briefing also highlighted Sri Lanka’s commitment to nuclear disarmament, including its support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 2023.

The students also learned about Sri Lanka’s leadership in declaring the Indian Ocean a Zone of Peace at the UN General Assembly in 1971. A lively Q&A followed, covering Sri Lanka’s non-aligned foreign policy, UN voting patterns, and diplomatic positions.

The visit concluded with a presentation on Sri Lanka’s geography, economy, tourism, and culture, followed by the serving of traditional Sri Lankan delicacies and Ceylon tea.