Sri Lanka showcased strong commitment to sustainable financing at the Fifth Session of the Committee on Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Financing for Development held in Bangkok.

The Fifth Session of the Committee on Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Financing for Development was held from 19-21 November 2025 at the Unite Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. The Session was opened by Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). During the opening session, special remarks were made by H.E. Ahmed Mazin, Minister of State for Finance and Planning of Maldives, Mr. Benjarong Suwankiri, Vice-Minister of Finance of Thailand and the Secretary-General of UNCTAD. The meeting brought together key member States, including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, the United States of America, and Viet Nam, reflecting strong regional engagement in advancing inclusive and sustainable development financing.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand, H.E. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, expressed the Government of Sri Lanka’s appreciation to ESCAP for its continued support in strengthening financing for development across the Asia-Pacific region. She emphasized that the session takes place at a critical juncture following the adoption of the Sevilla Commitment, an ambitious and updated framework aimed at mobilizing financing at scale, tackling complex development and debt challenges, and advancing reforms in the international financial architecture. With only five years left to achieve the 2030 Agenda, the Ambassador welcomed the strengthened regional follow-up processes envisioned under the Commitment.

Ambassador Edirisinghe highlighted Sri Lanka’s efforts to advance climate finance and sustainable investment in line with the Sevilla Commitment, noting the launch of the National Climate Finance Strategy (2025–2030) to strengthen financial markets, attract investment, and support sustainable development through instruments such as disaster risk insurance, climate- smart agriculture incentives, thematic bonds, and a dedicated fund. She also emphasized the
proactive development of a Green Bond Framework with ESCAP’s support, backed by a high-rated Second-Party Opinion from ESCAP and GGGI, which positions Sri Lanka to issue green and blue bonds and align with international standards.

The Ambassador also underscored Sri Lanka’s efforts to promote sustainability in the blue
economy through the Marine Investment Planning Tool, a GIS-based system ensuring
responsible marine investments. She emphasized the importance of robust data systems for sustainable finance, which support informed decision-making and the government’s digitization agenda. These initiatives reflect Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to mobilizing climate and sustainable development finance, enhancing resilience, and aligning national actions with regional and global frameworks, including the Sevilla Commitment.

Ambassador Edirisinghe reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s readiness to contribute constructively to the Committee’s regional follow-up processes and to share national experiences to support
collective progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Embassy and Permanent Mission in Sri Lanka in Bangkok