Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka attends 8th South and South-West Asia Forum on Sustainable Development in New Delhi
The Eighth South and South-West Asia Forum on Sustainable Development has taken place in New Delhi, India from 11th to 12th November 2024, co-hosted by the NITI Aayog of the Government of India and Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator, with a strong call for renewed commitment, accelerated efforts and innovative solutions to meet development ambitions. The Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, E.A.S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe was invited to attend the forum.
Promoting Buddhist Religious Tourism: Sri Lanka and Thailand Collaborate on ‘Solosmastana’ Documentary
The Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Public Broadcasting Service of Thailand (Thai PBS), are producing a documentary on ‘Solosmastana’, featuring the 16 sacred religious sites of Sri Lanka. This initiative aims to strengthen Buddhist religious tourism between the two nations, highlighting shared cultural and spiritual heritage.
Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UNESCAP Presents Credentialsbr
H.E Mrs.Samantha K.Jayasuriya presented Credentials to H.E. Ms. ArmidaSalsiahAlisjahbana, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, as the new Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, today.
Welcoming the new Permanent Representative, Executive Secretary Alisjahbana,outlined the mandate of the ESCAP and the upcoming regular and main sessions and invited continued active participation of Sri Lanka. Elaborating further on the three main areas in focusduring the 2020 Commission Session under the overarching theme of ‘Promoting economic, social and environmental cooperation on ocean for sustainable development,’ namely on sustainable maritime connectivity, fisheries and pollution free oceans, the Executive Secretary welcomed the interest of Sri Lanka to play a constructive role and to contribute to the deliberations.
While conveying the appreciation of the Government of Sri Lanka for the technical assistance and capacity building support that the ESCAP has been extending to Sri Lanka, the Permanent Representative also recalled that there were a number of Sri Lankans who have been providing their expertise and services to ESCAP either as consultants or employees. As a country that has recently graduated to the upper middle income status, PR Jayasuriya said that Sri Lanka has taken keen interest in promoting mutual dialogue and collaboration among Member States to ensure maritime safety, particularly safe and peaceful navigation in the Indian Ocean, sustainable fishing,reducing ocean pollution etc. Also, the country has enacted the Sustainable Development Act in 2017 and is incorporating SDGs in to its national policies she said. In this backdrop, she assured that Sri Lanka will lookfor more intense collaboration with the Commission in areas of mutual interest.
Second Secretary Ms. SarithaRanatunga was associated with the Permanent Representative, while Mr. Mitch Hsieh, Secretary and Mr. Lorenzo Santucci, Deputy Secretary of the Commission joined the Executive Secretary at the Meeting.
Note: The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) established in 1947 serves as the United Nations’ regional hub for promoting cooperation among Member States to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. Sri Lanka became a member of ESCAP in 1954 and since then has been receiving policy advisory services, capacity building and technical assistance for government agencies in achieving SDGs, disaster risk reduction, transport, energy, ICT developments etc).
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Bangkok
