Jayantha Dhanapala

Believed by many within the Asian region to hold strong credential for the S-G job, Dhanapala, 50, holds several degrees including the American University (Master of Arts in International Studies), and Universtiy of London were he studied Chinese. Dhanapala is an experienced diplomat with nearly two decades of service in the Sri Lankan diplomatic corps with postings in London, Beijing, Washington, D.C. and New Delhi. He was director of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM) Division of the Foreign Ministry during Sri Lanka's Chairmanship of the NAM. In the early 1980’s he was appointed Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations (UN) In 1987, the UN Secretary-General tapped him to direct the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) in Geneva. His studies association with China, work with non-aligned countries, UN experience, plus coming from a small country is a good mix for a potential candidate. http://www.unu.edu/council/members/Dhanapala.html

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