At the plenary of the 222nd Session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, Sri Lanka reaffirmed its strong commitment to multilateralism and to UNESCO’s mission of promoting peace, dialogue, and sustainable development through education, culture, the sciences, and communication and information.
Delivering the national statement on 6 October 2025, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO Manisha Gunasekera commended the Chairperson of the Executive Board and the Director-General of UNESCO for their leadership and vision in advancing UNESCO’s work amid global challenges.
Sri Lanka underscored the need for prudent financial management, transparency in programme planning, and balanced resource allocation across all sectors, while safeguarding UNESCO’s core priorities and maintaining the effectiveness of its field presence. The country also highlighted the importance of equitable geographic representation and regional balance in staffing, as key elements of inclusive and credible decision-making.
As an island nation and a founding member to have ratified the historic Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), Sri Lanka emphasized its commitment to global ocean governance, and invited the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to play a key role in advancing marine conservation and climate resilience.
Reaffirming its commitment to UNESCO’s global initiatives on the ethics of artificial intelligence, climate education, and teacher development, Sri Lanka called for the protection of these priority areas even amid financial constraints, recognizing their long-term value in building peaceful and knowledge-driven societies.
Sri Lanka further expressed its support towards the ongoing UN80 reform process, aligning with the Asia and the Pacific Group (ASPAC) Group and G77 and China, and called for efficiency, coherence, and regional inclusivity in shaping UNESCO’s future direction.
Embassy of Sri Lanka &
Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO
Paris
21.10.2025