Strengthening Buddhist Heritage Diplomacy: Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Thailand Delivers a Lecture at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to UNESCAP in Bangkok, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, was invited to deliver a lecture on “Guardians of the Dhamma: The Role of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Anagarika Dharmapala’s Pioneering Efforts to Preserve Buddhagaya” at the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, one of Thailand’s foremost centres of Buddhist higher education on 17 March 2026.
Ambassador Hosts Ms. Sri Lanka 2025 to Promote Cultural and Creative Collaboration Between Sri Lanka and Thailand
The Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to Thailand, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, recently hosted Ms. Sri Lanka 2025, Prathiba Liyanarachchi, at the Official Residence of the Ambassador in Bangkok. The meeting was attended by members of the Embassy staff and several Sri Lankan ladies residing in Thailand.
The first ever regional conversation to mark the ‘International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies’, hosted on 8th September 2020, heard remarks by Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, and several other experts from UNEP, and enabled to share useful insights and experiences by member States inspiring actions and advocating solutions on how the Asia-Pacific region could build back better post-COVID-19 pandemic through regional cooperation.
Presenting the positive steps taken by Sri Lanka to preserve the overall air quality and the environment, Ms. Poornima Gunasekera, the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Sri Lanka Mission to the UNESCAP said that, reducing air pollution and improving the quality of air has been a key consideration under the Sustainable Environment Policy stipulated in the National Policy Framework, ‘Vistas of Prosperity & Splendour’. Elaborating further on some of the specific actions, she said steps are already in place for monitoring ambient air quality, controlling mechanisms for vehicular emission, phasing out of leaded gasoline, introducing green building guidelines, indoor air quality guidelines and strict regulations for vehicle importation. All these steps are also in sync with Sri Lanka’s commitment towards cleaner oceans and mangrove restoration. Reiterating Sri Lanka readiness to join collective initiatives, Ms. Gunasekera stressed on the need for stronger regional collaboration on air quality improvements, especially on addressing trans boundary movements of air polutants.
The Regional Conversation on air pollution is one of six such conversations organized by the UNESCAP on Building Back Better, and is also in commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, to bring together member State representatives and diverse groups of eminent personalities on the subject.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to UNESCAP
Bangkok
09th September 2020