The Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, Thailand, Sri Lanka actively participated in the 82^nd Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, held from 20 to 24 April 2026, reaffirming its commitment to advancing inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region.

A key highlight of Sri Lanka’s participation was the invitation extended to the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to ESCAP, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe chair the session on the Review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific and issues pertinent to the subsidiary structure of the Commission. Discussions under this agenda item covered critical areas including the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), social development, environment and development, disaster risk reduction, and energy.

The session witnessed active engagement from a broad range of member States, reflecting strong regional commitment to accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Delegations exchanged views on integrated, people-centred approaches to development, with particular emphasis on addressing inequalities, climate challenges, and demographic transitions.

Sri Lanka’s delegation, led by Hon. Dr. Upali Pannilage, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, also participated in several important side events. These included the event titled “Science, Technology and Innovation in Bioeconomy for Sustainable Transformation: Advancing Strategies and Partnerships in the Asia-Pacific Region,” organized by the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, as well as the launch of the Technical Cooperation Highlights 2024–2025 publication. These engagements underscored the growing importance of innovation, technology transfer, and partnerships in achieving sustainable development outcomes.

During the Session, Sri Lanka extended its support to Bangladesh, China, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and Thailand in their election to the Governing Council of the Asia and the Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT) for the term 2026–2029. Sri Lanka also supported key draft resolutions presented by Kazakhstan on the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Digital Solutions Centre for Sustainable Development in Almaty, and by Bangladesh on supporting the transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy in the region.

Furthermore, Sri Lanka expressed its support for the proposal by the People’s Republic of China to host the 83rd Session of the Commission in Shanghai in 2027, recognizing the importance of continued regional dialogue and cooperation.

Sri Lanka’s active participation throughout the Session reflects its steadfast commitment to multilateralism and to working collaboratively with regional partners to advance the 2030 Agenda. The successful conclusion of the 82^nd Session reaffirms the critical role of ESCAP as a platform for fostering inclusive growth, strengthening resilience, and ensuring that no one is left behind in Asia and the Pacific.

Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka

Bangkok

27^th April 2026