Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, Ambassador C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne presents Letters of Credence to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)

Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand, C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne presented Letters of Credence to the Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana of UNESCAP on 26th November 2021 at the UNESCAP Secretariat in Bangkok, following her virtual meeting on 20th April 2021.

After congratulating Ambassador Chaminda Colonne and warmly welcoming her to the UNESCAP Secretariat, Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana assured fullest cooperation to the Sri Lanka’s Permanent Mission in Bangkok, the Government of Sri Lanka, and in realizing 2030 Agenda on the Sustainable Development and related activities, programmes in Sri Lanka.
While conveying warm greetings from H.E. the President, Hon. Prime Minister and Hon. Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Ambassador Chaminda Colonne conveyed Sri Lanka’s continued fullest support and cooperation to UNESCAP in achieving common Sustainable Development Goals.

Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government of Sri Lanka for hosting the Fifth South Asia Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals, in Sri Lanka from 15-16 November 2021. Recalling her recent virtual meetings with Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila and the Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana highlighted UNESCAP’s interest in providing technical assistance to realize SDG 7, namely affordable and clean energy in line with the SDG Road Map.

Both discussed on future cooperation in the areas of data & statistics, organic farming, Public Private Partnership (PPP) and financing for development as well as on the provision of technical and financial support in the renewable energy development in Sri Lanka.

Elaborating on the keen interest and efforts taken by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to move from chemical to organic fertilizer, Ambassador Chaminda Colonne requested UNESCAP’s technical assistance, research and awareness programmes for shifting toward organic farming in Sri Lanka.

Secretary of the Commission Lorenzo Santucci, Director of Strategy and Programme Management Division and Officer in Charge, Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia, Adnan Aliani of UNESCAP and First Secretary and Deputy Permanent Representative Saritha Ranatunga from Sri Lanka Mission in Bangkok joined the discussion.

Embassy and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UNESCAP
Bangkok, Thailand
26th November 2021