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.
‘Need for social protection has never been greater’ Sri Lanka tells the UNESCAP Committee on Social Development (CSD)
Upon been elected as the Chair by acclamation, and opening the sixth session of the Committee on Social Development (CSD) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), which was held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok from 20 to 21 October 2020, H.E. (Mrs.) Samantha K. Jayasuriya, Ambassador and the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UNESCAP, told the UN CSD that the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic proved the need for social protection than ever before.
The focused theme of the Committee was on social protection, and further addressing the forum, Ambassador Jayasuriya reminded that despite the fact that, governments from across the region has taken concerted measures to address and cushion the socio-economic fallout from the pandemic, as we continue to tread unknown and uncertain grounds in the context of COVID 19, the Committee on Social Development can provide an opportunity to forge ways to strengthen social protection as a key instrument for building resilience.
The Committee endorsed the two priority documents; namely; the ‘Action Plan to strengthen the regional cooperation on social protection in Asia and the Pacific’ and the ‘Asia Pacific indicator framework for monitoring progress towards the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), and the commitments contained in the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development’. Making an intervention under agenda item 02, Ms. Saritha Ranatunga, Assistant Permanent Representative, highlighted the significant progress achieved by Sri Lanka in guaranteeing social protection and welfare of the citizens by providing universal access to health care and education as well as social benefits for the elderly citizens, differently abled and other vulnerable groups. She also highlighted the steadfast resilient actions taken by the Government of Sri Lanka for the welfare of over six million vulnerable families during the COVID 19 pandemic, and other mitigation activities to control the spread of COVID 19, including the setting up of the ‘COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund’. Sri Lanka emphasized on the importance of realization of the action plan on social protection, and creating a dynamic regional platform for peer learning, and to share experience, as useful tools.
Mr. M. Ramamoorthy, Director (Planning) of the State Ministry of Samurdhi, House Hold Economy, Microfinance, Self Employment and Business Development and Ms. Nadeeka Amarasinghe, Assistant Director of the Sustainable Development Council, Sri Lanka joined the forum from Colombo via online. Participants representing Member States, International Organization and Civil Society Organizations attended the meeting in person at the UNCC, Bangkok, as well as via video conferencing.
Embassy and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UNESCAP
Bangkok
21 October 2020
Read the NEW report which explains why gaps in social protection exist and how we can close them: http://bit.ly/-APOutlook2020
Follow the Social Development Committee of the #AsiaPacific Virtually.
Morning Session: https://bit.ly/2Hll57C
Afternoon Session: https://bit.ly/349YbJ0
Press Release: http://slembbkk.com/assets/news/notice20201021_slembbkk.html
Link to session: https://www.unescap.org/intergovernmental-meetings/committee-social-development-sixth-session
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