Attending the 26thsession of the United Nations General Assembly in October 1971, Mrs Bandaranaike proposed the declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace. This topic featured in her discussions with UN Secretary General U Thant. The resolution which was sponsored by Ceylon and Tanzania was co-sponsored by several other countries and received widespread support. India and Ceylon campaigned tirelessly to gain support from those who had abstained from voting when the issue was raised at several international fora.