Updated on Sunday, May 28, 2006, 00:00 IST

Putrajaya, May 28: Sri Lanka's candidate for the UN Secretary General post, Jayantha Dhanapala, is seeking the support of developing nations at this week's meeting of the 114-nation Non-Aligned Movement.

"Clearly the non-aligned movement is a very influential grouping, and therefore their decision would be of great importance," he told in an interview ahead of the ministerial talks which begin tomorrow.

"I come from a small country which has always had moderate policies in international affairs and has been successful in achieving consensus building," said the career diplomat who has held senior UN posts and now serves as an Adviser to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajpakse.

Current UN Chief Kofi Annan who steps down at the end of this year has said he should be replaced by an Asian in line with the convention for regional rotation of the top job.

Asia has not had a UN chief since Myanmar's U Thant finished his second term in 1971.

Dhanapala is one of three candidates from the region including South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon and Thai Deputy Premier Surakiart Sathirathai.

None of the three are highly fancied and there is no certainty that an Asian will be chosen -- the United States has said that the best candidate should get the job regardless of where they come from.

But despite the vacuum and Southeast Asia's pledge to support the Thai candidate, Dhanapala said he was confident in his pitch as a candidate with both a wealth of experience within the UN and a commitment to reform.

Bureau Report