Press Releases
Sri Lanka Signs Landmark Agreement with ESCAP-CSAM to Enhance Agricultural Machinery Standards
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bangkok Participates in the International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams in Bangkok
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), successfully co-hosted the International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams in Bangkok, Thailand. The Conference aimed to strengthen and complement ongoing regional and international efforts to combat online scams and to enhance global cooperation to address existing operational gaps in tackling this complex form of transnational crime. The event brought together over 300 participants from 60 countries, including ministerial-level representatives, senior officials, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP Chairs 421st Session of the ACPR in Bangkok
The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to Thailand, E.A.S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, participated in the 421st Session of the Advisory Committee of Permanent Representatives (ACPR) held at the United Nations premises in Bangkok. The Ambassador was invited to chair the final ACPR session of the year, reflecting Sri Lanka’s active and constructive engagement with the UN system in the region.
The Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), through its Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM), signed a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) during a special ceremony held at CIAME Asia 2025 – Thailand International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition on 23 July 2025 in Bangkok. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, witnessed the signing of the MoA.
Director General of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), Dr. Siddhika G. Senaratne, signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, and the Director of the Strategy and Programme Management Division of ESCAP, Adnan Aliani, signed on behalf of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
SLSI, the National Standards Body of Sri Lanka, plays a pivotal role in formulating national standards that meet domestic requirements while aligning with international best practices. Through this agreement, SLSI and ESCAP-CSAM will jointly lead the process of adopting and localizing regionally harmonized ANTAM test codes for agricultural machinery in Sri Lanka.
By institutionalizing these test codes, the MoA aims to enhance the safety, quality, and efficiency of agricultural machinery in the country. It supports Sri Lanka’s broader agenda for agricultural modernization, digital transformation, and environmental sustainability—ultimately benefiting farmers through improved machinery performance, trade facilitation, and safer working conditions.
Ambassador Wijayanthi Edirisinghe commended ESCAP-CSAM’s leadership and SLSI’s proactive engagement. She emphasized the critical role of partnerships in advancing food security, agricultural productivity, and rural livelihoods.
“This agreement reflects Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to sustainable agriculture and regional cooperation. As Ambassador and Permanent Representative to ESCAP, I am proud to witness this milestone and reaffirm our continued support for impactful initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” she stated.
While delivering the introductory remarks, Dr. Siddhika Senarathne emphasized that this partnership, established under the framework of the Asian and Pacific Network for Testing of Agricultural Machinery (ANTAM), marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen its agricultural standards system.
Vice President of the Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Suppliers Association of Sri Lanka (AgMMA), Chaminda Sanjaya Kumara Nishankage, also delivered remarks highlighting the role and engagement of the private sector in supporting CSAM initiatives.
Following the signing ceremony, a dedicated panel discussion was convened to introduce the ANTAM initiative, engage regional manufacturers and suppliers, and gather insights on how the initiative can best serve stakeholders across the agricultural machinery value chain. Experiences from other ANTAM participating countries were also shared, underlining the benefits of regional collaboration.
Having actively participated in the 2023 and 2024 policy dialogues on the establishment of a mutual recognition system under ANTAM, SLSI’s decision to institutionalize these test codes positions Sri Lanka as a key contributor to harmonized regional standards in agricultural mechanization.
Deputy Head & Programme Officer, ESCAP-CSAM, Marco Silvestri, and Head of Chancery A W S Samanmali also attended the ceremony.
Embassy and Permanent Mission
Bangkok
24.07.2025
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bangkok Participates in the International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams in Bangkok
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), successfully co-hosted the International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams in Bangkok, Thailand. The Conference aimed to strengthen and complement ongoing regional and international efforts to combat online scams and to enhance global cooperation to address existing operational gaps in tackling this complex form of transnational crime. The event brought together over 300 participants from 60 countries, including ministerial-level representatives, senior officials, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP Chairs 421st Session of the ACPR in Bangkok
The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to Thailand, E.A.S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, participated in the 421st Session of the Advisory Committee of Permanent Representatives (ACPR) held at the United Nations premises in Bangkok. The Ambassador was invited to chair the final ACPR session of the year, reflecting Sri Lanka’s active and constructive engagement with the UN system in the region.