“I really appreciate Sri Lanka for your great support while I was in the UN Office.”
— BAN, KI-MOON”
Hon. Ban Ki-Moon, the 8th Secretary-General of United Nations was invited for a public speech by the Graduate School of International Studies of the Seoul National University on 26 March 2018. Ban, Ki-Moon received his Bachelor in International Relations Degree from Seoul National University in 1970. Then, he earned his Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University.
Ban delivered a talk on “Peace on the Korea Peninsula in a Changing International Order — Asia and the World. This was his very first address in his alma mater in Seoul. He was mainly talking about climate changes, sustainable development goals, unification of Korea and the issues and economic challenges in the reunification. During his address, he proudly mentioned Sri Lanka that a Sri Lankan young woman (27 Years old) is currently working as UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth. Actually, Ms Jayathma Wickramanayake from Sri Lanka was appointed in June 2017 as the Envoy on Youth by the current United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres next to a Jordanian.
At the end of his talk, he recalled Prof. Stephen Hawking’s quote “Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up” and further he motivated the students, “Dear students, please ‘NEVER-GIVE-UP’ and striving to create a more peaceful and sustainable world forward; let us work together to make this world better for all of us and our succeeding generation”.
After the session, I had an opportunity to congratulate him during the photo session. When I introduced me as a Sri Lankan, he told me that I am really happy and appreciating Sri Lanka for your great supports and helps during my term in the UN office. That was the proudest moment to me to hear such a great word from the greatest person!
SiGoSport 