Sri Lanka’s ambassador elected chair of UNESCO sessions in Bangkok

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Thailand, Samantha K. Jayasuriya, who is also the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UNESCAP, was elected as the chair of the sixth session of the Committee on Social Development (CSD) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

The event was held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok on October 20-21. In her presentation, the Ambassador said that the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic proved the need for social protection more than ever before.

The focused theme of the Committee was on social protection, and further addressing the forum, Ambassador Jayasuriya – in comments released to the media by the embassy - reminded that despite the fact that, governments from across the region have 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. 

During an intervention in the sessions, 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’. 
The embassy said that 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. 
 

Above, tjhe Sri Lankan Ambassador speaking at the event.