Ambassador and Permanent Representative C.A. Chaminda I Colonne delivers a Special address at the “1st Asia Pacific E-Commerce Policy Summit” in New Delhi
At the invitation of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand and Permanent Representative to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne recently delivered a Special Address in the Inaugural Session of the “1st Asia Pacific E-Commerce Policy Summit” which was jointly organized by ICRIER and United Nations ESCAP South and South West Asia Office in New Delhi, at the India Habitat Centre (IHC) in New Delhi.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Chaminda Colonne Chairs the 80th Commission Session of the UNESCAP and launches “Cooperation with Impact – Launch of the Technical Cooperation Highlights 2022-2023”
Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne, led the Sri Lanka Delegation to the 80th Commission Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, (UNESCAP) from 22nd to 26th April 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific” and elected as a Vice Chair of the Bureau for the 80th Commission.
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
