Sept 23, Colombo: External Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. G.L. Peiris is to lead the country's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York and President Mahinda Rajapaksa will not attend the 67th UN General Assembly.

Presidential Spokesperson Bandula Jayasekera said that President Rajapaksa will not attend this year's UN General Assembly. Minister Peiris is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly tomorrow (24) on behalf of the President. Peiris who traveled to India with the President is to leave for New York today (23).

The UN General Assembly is to convene a high-level meeting on the rule of law on the 24th where heads of governments or representatives are to address the Assembly.

Jayasekera has noted that the President did not have to attend the UNGA and that he could send a representative to address the Assembly on his behalf.

"This is not the first time, previous Presidents like J. R. Jayewardene and Chandrika Kumaratunga had also sent representatives to address the UNGA," Jayasekera has been quoted as saying.