Sri Lanka elected as Chair of the Seventh Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), in Bangkok
Sri Lanka Glows on the Global Stage at the 14th Celebration of Thai Silk
Sri Lanka added colour to Thailand’s most anticipated fashion and cultural showcase, the 14th Celebration of Silk: Thai Silk Road to the World, held on 21 June 2025 at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall in Bangkok.
Ambassador Wijayanthi Edirisinghe Meets Thai Senators to Strengthen Bilateral and Parliamentary Ties
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, received a distinguished delegation of Senators from the Senate of Thailand at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bangkok on 18 June 2025.
The7th APFSDwas held under the theme‘Accelerating action for and delivery of the 2030 Agenda in Asia and the Pacific’. Recalling that the UN has declared a ‘Decade of Action’ in realizing the 2030 Agenda, Ambassador Jayasuriya, addressing the Opening Session underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships and well coordinated response at national, and regional levels, including with all institutions and all members of society, as well as from the multilateral cooperation framework,in moving forward.
Joining the Opening Session online from New York was the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Ms. Armida SalsiahAlisjahbana, and H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, also addressed the Session. The speakers highlighted the need to change the challenges posed by COVID-19 crisis into new opportunities. They suggested on enhanced investments in social protection and health care, developing economic models aiming at green jobs, leveraging on innovations to advance technology based solutions while bridging the digital divide and enhancing scientific cooperation in the Asia Pacific Region etc.
Joining from Colombo, Dr. Sugath Yalegama, Director General of the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka shared Sri Lanka’s responses to contain the COVID 19 and actions taken in accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Emphasizing the necessity and importance of focusing onimmediate and medium term strategies, in the post COVID 19 context, he also highlighted that the new realities need to be incorporated into the goals and targets of 2030 Agenda.
The Session was joined online by over 730 participants representing member States, major stake holders, civil society and NGOs, and was declared opened by H.E. Fidelis Magalhães,Minister for Legislative Reforms and Parliamentary Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, as the outgoing Chair of the 6th APFSD. The annual Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) is an inclusive intergovernmental forum and a regional platform for supporting countries, in particular those with special needs, in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Ms. ShiranthiRatnayake, Additional Director General, National Planning Department, Ms.SamanthiSenanayake, Director and Ms.SheronHewawaduge, Assistant Director, Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lankajoined virtually from Colombo, and Mrs. PoornimaGunasekera, Head of Chancery, Mr. Anil Sirimanna, Counsellor (Commerce), and Ms. SarithaRanatunga, Second Secretary of the Sri Lanka Mission in Bangkokalso represented the GOSL delegation to the 7th APFSD.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Bangkok, Thailand
21 May 2020
7th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development Written inputs by Sri Lanka
