Ms. Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, accompanied by a delegation, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on 11 August at Temple Trees.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the SDG Investment Forum, convened as a part of “Forward Faster Now 2026”, the UN Global Compact’s flagship convening event for the Asia-Pacific region, organised in collaboration with the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI).
Welcoming the delegation, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya appreciated the initiatives led by the UN Global Compact at an important juncture of Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister noted that, during the past two years, the Government’s primary focus had been on restoring stability and building confidence, while the next phase would centre on creating an inclusive, sustainable and green economy.
The Prime Minister emphasised that attracting investment should be an important component of this next phase. She highlighted the need to identify and promote what Sri Lanka can uniquely offer.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of responsible private-sector engagement, noting them to be uphold ethical, inclusive and sustainable practices and align their investments and operations with the Government’s broader development principles.
Ms. Ojiambo briefed the Prime Minister on the ongoing SDG Investment Forum and the work of the UN Global Compact to strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors. She highlighted efforts to mobilise private-sector investment and encourage businesses to adopt sustainable practices while supporting national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The meeting was attended by Rathika de Silva, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka; Carolina Fowler, Special Assistant, Office of the Assistant Secretary-General, UN Global Compact; Neha Das, Head of Asia & Oceania, UN Global Compact; and other representatives, Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism also participated in the meeting.
Prime Minister’s Media Division