(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – State Minister of Finance, Shehan Semasinghe recently led the Sri Lanka Delegation to the “10th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development” (AFPSD) at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.
The delegation comprised of Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne, Director General of the Sustainable Development Council Chamindry Saparamadu, General Manager, Department of Energy of the Ceylon Electricity Board K.P.P. Perara and First Secretary/Deputy Permanent Representative to UNESCAP A.W.S Samanmali of the Mission.
After the opening remarks made by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Don Pramudwinai delivered special remarks at the inauguration.
The Session on Voluntary National Review, which was to follow up and review to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda of the 10th AFPSD was vice chaired by the Minister Semasinghe who was also a panel member at the Ministerial Panel and the discussion showcasing country initiatives and successes. State Minister Semasinghe stated that the International Monetary Fund approved $2.9 billion in support of Sri Lanka addressing the ongoing economic crisis. He further added that the 48-month extended arrangement will provide a much-needed injection of capital to fund essential imports and provide policy space for the Sri Lankan Government to stimulate economic growth and facilitate structural reforms. He confirmed that Sri Lanka has fully committed to achieving fiscal consolidation and implementing fiscal structural reforms; restoring public debt sustainability; restoring price stability and reducing corruption vulnerabilities and introducing growth-enhancing reforms.
Director General of the Sustainable Development Council, Chamindry Saparamadu shared Sri Lanka’s voluntary national reviews experiences and follow up actions.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative Chaminda Colonne delivered the country statement during the sidelines of 10th AFPSD; Future Generation: Multi-Stakeholder Roles, for Strengthening Space Applications and Sustainable Development where Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies (ACCIMT) of Sri Lanka was one of the co organizers.
State Minister Semasinghe held bilateral discussions with the Executive Secretary of the UNESCAP and the Under-Secretary-General of the UN Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, the Under Secretary General of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Li Junhua, the Regional Hub/Deputy Regional Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Christopher Bahuet, Director of the Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division Hamza Ali Malik and the Federal Minister for Planning and Development of Pakistan Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary.
During his stay in Bangkok, State Minister Semasinghe had the opportunity to visit “Style Bangkok 2023” which is Asia’s leading lifestyle and fashion trade fair in Thailand that showcases new fashion and lifestyle products trends of Thai brands and the Sustainable+ concept, co-organized by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), the Ministry of Commerce, and the Federation of Thai Industries and also experienced the One Village One Product (OTOP) concept of Thailand.
