Bangkok: 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.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Sri Lanka, the Ambassador reflected on the outcomes of the subregional forum, held from November 12 to 14, 2024, in New Delhi. The forum gathered nine countries-Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Trkiye-along with a range 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.
In her address, the Ambassador highlighted that, despite notable national achievements, the South and South-West Asia subregion remains off course in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She noted that in some areas, such as responsible consumption and production and climate action, progress has even regressed.
The Ambassador emphasized common challenges faced across the subregion, including persistent poverty, socio-economic disparities, gender inequality, climate vulnerability, and fiscal constraints that hinder sustainable development. She pointed out that 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 with 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 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 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.