Media Release, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo, 1st March 2024; The State Minister of Finance, Shehan Semasinghe, while addressing the 11th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable
Development (AFPSD) at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) held from 20 to 23 February 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, stated that the comprehensive macroeconomic reform initiatives introduced by the Government of Sri Lanka are yielding positive outcomes.
The 11th APSFD Forum undertook an in-depth review of the region’s progress on Sustainable Development Goals on No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Climate Action, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and Partnerships for the Goals. The outcomes of the Forum will feed into the global High-Level Political Forum to be held in July and the Summit of the Future which is to be held in September 2024 in New York.
The opening remarks were delivered by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana while Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, delivered special remarks. The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed delivered the keynote speech at the inauguration.
State Minister Semasinghe also participated at the high level panel discussion of the associated event under the theme of ‘New Frontiers on Social Protection in a Changing World – Towards a vision for shared progress in Asia Pacific’ on 19 February 2024 and spoke on the social protection reforms of the Government of Sri Lanka which has enabled the Government to pursue critical reforms in the tax structure, utility pricing and State Owned Enterprises reforms .
The Sri Lanka 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, and the officials of Sri Lanka Embassy in Bangkok.
Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka, Bangkok
END
