Ambassador of Sri Lanka delivers Opening Remarks at the Fourth International Youth Forum on SDGs and Human Rights in Bangkok
Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, E.A.S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe was invited to deliver the opening remarks at the Fourth International Youth Forum on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Human Rights, held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok on 22 October 2024.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka Attends Navaratri Pooja at Maha Mari Amman Hindu Temple in Bangkok
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, E.A.S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe had the honor of being the chief guest at the Navaratri Pooja held at the Maha Mari Amman Hindu Temple in Bangkok on 11.10.2024. The event, which celebrates the vibrant festival of Navaratri, brought together devotees and members of the Hindu community in a spirit of devotion and unity.
Joining as a speaker at the Plenary Session on ‘Voices for Solutions to the Plastic Pollution Conundrum’ at the invitation of the UN Environment Regional Office in Bangkok, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to UNESCAP, Ambassador (Mrs.) Samantha K. Jayasuriya pledged on Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to encourage more private public partnerships and multi-stakeholder engagements for innovative solutions for plastic pollution, including producing micro filaments for cleaning tools, yarns for apparels such as the T20 Cricket Gear, Galle Dialogue T-Shirts from plastic wastes, promoting circular economy.
Ambassador Jayasuriya attended the networking breakfast earlier in the day with Helen Ågren, Ambassador for the Ocean, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the opening session of the Day – 4 which was graced by the H.E. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand, who shared insights on the urgency of addressing the marine plastic pollution and explained actions by Thailand.
Further speaking at the plenary session on voices for solutions to the plastic pollution conundrum, Ambassador Jayasuriya also said Sri Lanka will take action to fully implement the 2017 policy initiative of banning selected polythene and polythene products, and to expand the ‘Beach Park Programme’ currently covering 90 kms long stretch of beaches that was assigned to families living around, to clean and handover the plastic wastes to recyclers.
SEA of Solutions 2019 showcased 29 exhibitors, where Sri Lankan researcher from the Asian Institute of Technology, Dr. Kavinda Gunasekara displayed the ongoing project on developing plastic leakage scenarios in the Mekong River basin using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing technologies. A short video on the story of making the official jersey for Sri Lanka Cricket T- 20 out of the recycled marine plastic wastes by MAS Holdings (Eco Spindle), and the partnership with Sri Lanka Navy was also displayed at the exhibition. Ms. Saritha Ranatunga, Second Secretary coordinated Sri Lanka’s Participation at the pledging event with the support of the Marine Plastic Prevention Authority (MEPA) of Sri Lanka and the Ocean Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UNESCAP Bangkok
Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bangkok,Thailand.