Sri Lanka is actively participating in the Ninth Session of the Committee on Environment and Development (CED-9) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which commenced in Bangkok on 29 June 2026 and will continue until 3 July 2026. Convened at the ministerial level, the Session has brought together ministers, deputy ministers, senior government officials and representatives from over 40 member States and associate members of the Asia-Pacific region, together with the United Nations system, international organizations and other stakeholders to advance regional cooperation on environment and sustainable development. The session is focusing on integrated approaches to tackling the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution while accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Sri Lankan delegation is led by Hon. Anton Jayakody, Deputy Minister of Environment, and comprises H.E. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to ESCAP, Mr. K.M.M.C. Bandara, Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Environment, Ms. Jeevanthie Senanayake, Director General/ Sustainable Development Council and officials of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bangkok.

Prior to the Ministerial Session, Deputy Minister Jayakody participated in the Seventh Global Conference on Climate and SDG Synergies held on 29–30 June 2026, where he addressed the High-Level Segment titled “Recommitting to the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda: Regaining Peace, Solidarity, Sustainability and Prosperity.”

In his remarks, the Deputy Minister reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to implementing the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda through integrated climate and sustainable development policies. Referring to Sri Lanka’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), he highlighted priorities including renewable energy, sustainable transport, the circular economy, ecosystem restoration and climate resilience, while calling for enhanced climate finance, technology transfer and capacity-building to support developing countries.

The Ministerial Segment of CED-9 commenced on 1 July, with Deputy Minister Jayakody delivering Sri Lanka’s country statement under Agenda Item 2 on strengthening regional cooperation for environment and development. He highlighted Sri Lanka’s active participation in regional initiatives, including the Regional Action Programme on Air Pollution (RAPAP), and underscored the country’s vulnerability to severe floods, changing rainfall patterns and coastal impacts of climate change. He also emphasized integrated policies, stronger regional cooperation and enhanced environmental monitoring to address emerging challenges.

Under Agenda Item 3, Additional Secretary (Development) Mr. K.M.M.C. Bandara reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to integrated approaches that address climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution while advancing sustainable development. He highlighted the country’s priorities in climate resilience, ecosystem-based solutions, resource efficiency, sustainable urban planning and stronger institutional coordination.

Deputy Minister Jayakody also participated in an interview conducted by the ESCAP Environment and Development Committee Secretariat, where he shared Sri Lanka’s experience of increasingly intense rainfall and recurrent flooding as visible impacts of climate change. He stressed that stronger synergies among climate action, biodiversity conservation and pollution control are essential to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals, while noting that financing, technology and institutional coordination remain key challenges requiring enhanced regional and international cooperation.

The Ninth Session of the Committee on Environment and Development will conclude on 3 July 2026, following further ministerial deliberations on regional environmental priorities and the adoption of the session’s outcomes. The Sri Lankan delegation will continue its active engagement throughout the remaining proceedings, including an intervention by H.E. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to ESCAP, under Agenda Item 4, reaffirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to regional cooperation and collective action towards a sustainable and climate-resilient Asia-Pacific.

Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka

Bangkok

01 July 2026