Sri Lanka: Time for Professional Speechwriters

The UN: A Waste of Money?

- By KKS PERERA

The UN is facing harsh crticism for its inability to resolve current conflicts including Gaza

The UN General Assembly meeting showed a badly broken world order, with world leaders giving speeches that revealed deep splits on how to run the world, solve conflicts, and protect human rights. The assembly became a fight between those wanting countries to work together versus those wanting each nation to go it alone.

Opened under President Annalena Baerbock's leadership. The high-level debate began September 23, featuring over 150 world leaders in sessions from 9am-2:45pm and 3pm-9pm daily. On Thursday, the majority of representatives vacated the chamber as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu approached the podium.Brazil traditionally speaks first, followed by the US as host.

This created tension as Presidents Lula and Trump, who have clashed over Trump's ally Jair Bolsonaro’s recent coup conviction, spoke consecutively.Speaking order follows representation level, preferences, and geographic balance. The Vatican, Palestine, and EU also participate. Debates continue through September 27, resume September 29 (no Sunday sessions), with all scheduled speakers completing their voluntary 15-minute addresses before conclusion.

US President Donald Trump's 55-minute address delivered the assembly's most significant developments. Initially offering a withering critique of UN effectiveness, Trump questioned the organisation’s very existence, dismissing it as a body that “printed a lot of papers and then didn't follow up on them” and was “unable to bring about peace or to resolve wars.” His infamous escalator malfunction became a metaphor for UN incompetence.