Doha: Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe attended the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, from 4 to 6 November 2025. The Summit, held thirty years after the landmark 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, was a crucial platform for dialogue, cooperation, and joint solutions, bringing together governments, international organizations, the UN, civil society, cooperatives, academia, the private sector, and experts to strengthen international cooperation for inclusive social development.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Sri Lanka, Deputy Minister Jayasinghe addressed the Plenary on 6 November 2025, emphasizing Sri Lanka’s commitment to the welfare of its migrant workers. He highlighted the country’s framework of mandatory insurance schemes, contributory pension plans, grievance handling mechanisms, and reintegration support. Additionally, he outlined policy initiatives to improve migration governance and worker protection abroad. Referring to the National Policy on Migration for Employment and its Action Plan (2023-2027), Jayasinghe discussed Sri Lanka’s belief in transparent, government-to-government frameworks for labour migration, aiming for fair and dignified employment relationships.
In addition to his Plenary address, Jayasinghe met with Qatar’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour, Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al Thani, to discuss strengthening cooperation on labour migration and enhancing welfare for Sri Lankan workers in Qatar. He also met with Adonis Sulit, Undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development of the Philippines, to explore potential cooperation on labour and migrant workers’ welfare.
During the Summit, Jayasinghe participated in sideline events, serving as a panelist in discussions like ‘Pathways out of Poverty: India’s Experience in Empowering the Last Mile,’ and ‘Advancing Social Protection for Workers Across the GCC, South Asia, and Africa Labour Migration Corridors,’ invited by India and the International Labour Organization (ILO), respectively.
Deputy Minister Jayasinghe was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Sithara Khan, along with other officials from the Ministry of Labour and the Mission.