Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe addressed the subregional session of the 12th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok, sharing key messages from the South and South-West Asia Subregional Forum for Sustainable Development.
In her address, the Ambassador reflected on the outcomes of the subregional forum, which was held from 12 to14 November 2024 in New Delhi. The forum brought together nine countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Türkiye—along with a diverse group of stakeholders, including governments, civil society, academia, the private sector, and regional and international organizations, to assess progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Despite notable national achievements, the Ambassador highlighted that the South and South-West Asia subregion remains off course in achieving the SDGs. In some areas, such as responsible consumption and production and climate action, progress has even regressed.
The Ambassador also emphasized the common challenges faced across the subregion, including persistent poverty, socio-economic disparities, gender inequality, climate vulnerability, and fiscal constraints that hinder sustainable development. Institutional capacity gaps, insufficient data systems, and barriers to private sector engagement continue to impede coordinated and scaled-up actions.
Recognizing the importance of regional cooperation in addressing these shared challenges, the Ambassador called for enhanced collaboration through frameworks such as ESCAP, SAARC, and BIMSTEC. She underscored the potential of South-South cooperation in amplifying the impact of shared resources, expertise, and innovative solutions, particularly in areas such as transboundary water management, regional trade facilitation, and climate adaptation strategies.
Ambassador Edirisinghe also met the youth representatives from Sri Lanka who attended the 12th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) Youth Forum 2025 and sideline events of APFSD.
The Sri Lanka delegation was also invited to a sideline event co-organized by the Azad Foundation and the South Asia Women’s Development Forum during APFSD on Addressing the Gender Divide for Transformative Education and Economic Empowerment.
The 12th APFSD serves as a critical platform for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to share insights and strategies on advancing the 2030 Agenda, with discussions from the subregional session helping to shape regional approaches to sustainable development.
Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Bangkok
10 March 2025
