Milinda.org

Member of Parliament Milinda Moragoda will be highlighting Sri Lanka's tsunami tragedy as well as the nation's response at the World Economic Forum's (WEF) global leaders annual meeting in Davos later this week.

Given the fact that December 26 tsunami attack has been described as the world's worst natural disaster the WEF has slotted in a special session to discuss the tidal wave tragedy.

Mr. Moragoda will be among a select few speakers as discussion leaders at the dinner session titled "Tsunami: Building a Coalition for Reconstruction" on January 27.

"The goal of the dinner is to identify needs and potential involvement for companies from the above sectors in the reconstruction after the tsunami," the WEF said.

Other discussion leaders for the session include Aburizal Bakrie, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of Indonesia, Robert E. Bellhouse, Executive Director, Disaster Resource Network (DRN), Geneva, Kamal Nath, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India and Markku Niskala, Secretary-General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva The session is a cross-industry dinner including Chemicals, Energy, Engineering and Construction, and Mining and Metals Governors. The governors are CEOs of the biggest companies of each sectors.

Meanwhile an AFP report said that political and business elite are likely to tackle poverty at the WEF forum starting on Wednesday.

The Presidents of Brazil, Nigeria and South Africa are scheduled to attend the five-day meeting in the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos, primarily to whip up more support for developing countries, the organisers said. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is to address the opening session while French President Jacques Chirac was also to so.

About 2,200 Heads of State, politicians, captains of industry, academics and other experts from 96 countries will also be asked to examine key global issues at a “crucial moment”, WEF Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab said.

“There are a number of new beginnings, from the new presidency of the European Commission, to the election of new president for the Palestinian Authority, to the coming elections in Iraq and the new leadership in Ukraine,” he told reporters.