Peace loving country like India should be UNSC permanent member- Opposition Leader

Sajith Premadasa, the Leader of the Opposition in Sri Lanka, stated on Monday that India, a nation known for its commitment to peace, should become a permanent member of the United Nations. Speaking to ANI, Premadasa highlighted Sri Lanka's support for reforms in the UN to better reflect the current global power dynamics. He emphasized that the UN should mirror the realities of power in the world today. "I strongly believe that India deserves its rightful place as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council," he noted. Currently, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council hold significant enforcement powers within the UN system. When discussing the UN's role in ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Premadasa explained that the organization was created to prevent the use of force. "The United Nations system was established in the aftermath of World War II, with specific norms aimed at avoiding conflict. These include Article 2.4, which discourages the use of force, and Article 2.7, which prevents interference in a nation's internal matters. Force should only be used in self-defense, as stated in Article 51. These guidelines were designed to promote global peace and security. We should recognize that there have been no major world wars since World War II," he remarked. Premadasa warned that if the current regional conflict escalates, it could lead to a catastrophic situation. "The real risk of this war is that it might escalate into a broader competition for power among the world's superpowers, potentially reigniting a Cold War scenario, which would be extremely concerning. We must work to prevent this and adhere to the guidelines set forth by the United Nations Charter as much as possible," he urged. He called on all countries to follow the United Nations Charter, which establishes a system of rules and norms that protect nations within the international community. "It is essential that we uphold and strengthen the provisions of the United Nations Charter to the fullest extent," he added.