June 9, 2002	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 27,1423

COLOMBO, June 8: Sources in the government confirmed on Saturday that Lankan Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando is likely to be a candidate for the United Nations top post when Secretary General Kofi Annan steps down in Dec 2006.

The sources said Mr Fernando had “received the blessings” of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for the candidature.

U Thant of Myanmar, who served as secretary general from 1961 to 1971, is the only Asian to have headed the world body.

The 60-year-old foreign minister of Sri Lanka has been a member of the parliament since 1977 and has held the portfolios of justice, information and broadcasting, and foreign affairs.