Ambassador of Sri Lanka Highlights the Need to Align Fiscal Consolidation with Sustainable Development at a High-Level Panel Discussion
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), H.E. Mrs. E.A.S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, highlighted the importance of aligning fiscal consolidation with sustainable development at a high-level panel discussion on “Navigating Global Fiscal Stress: A Strategic Roadmap to Reverse SDG Regression”, held in Bangkok on 21 August 2026
Ambassador of Sri Lanka participates in Gemports Award 2026 – The Vivid Legacy, an International Jewelry Design Competition in Bangkok
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand, E.A.S Wijayanthi Edirisinghe participated in the Gemports Award 2026 – The Vivid Legacy, Grand Final as the Guest of Honor, held on 15 August 2026 at the Event Hall, Jewelry Trade Center, Bangkok. The Ambassador joined together with General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, former Deputy Prime Minister, and Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), along with distinguished guests, industry leaders, designers, and representatives from the international gem and jewelry community.
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