President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Severine Chappaz, the newly appointed Head of Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), yesterday (25) at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss collaborative efforts between Sri Lanka and the ICRC.
Key topics of discussion included the ICRC’s support for the new government’s policy framework, particularly in strengthening the Office on Missing Persons (OMP). As part of this initiative, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society has committed to providing technical assistance and capacity-building support.
President Dissanayake emphasized that the 2025 budget has allocated funds for ongoing programs aimed at searching for missing persons, reflecting the government’s commitment to addressing this critical issue.
Additionally, the President announced plans to introduce “Sri Lankan Day,” a national initiative designed to promote unity and strengthen the country’s collective identity by transcending ethnic and religious divisions.
Expressing his gratitude, President Dissanayake commended the ICRC for its humanitarian efforts in Sri Lanka since 1989 and acknowledged its continued commitment to the country.
