February 28, Colombo (LNW): A key event aimed at rallying international support for Sri Lanka’s ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative was held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (27).
The Development Partner Dialogue, also known as the Donor Conference, sought to foster collaboration and secure financial and technical contributions to support the country’s ambitious environmental and cleanliness goals.
The primary objective of the conference was to gather valuable input, proposals, and commitments from international partners to strengthen the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme, a vital government-led initiative focused on enhancing waste management, promoting sustainability, and improving the overall cleanliness of the nation.
The event, which took place under the leadership of Marc-Andre Franche, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, was organised jointly by the United Nations and the Presidential Secretariat.
It was structured around three key sessions designed to facilitate dialogue between various stakeholders and explore how their support could be integrated into the national effort.
Representatives from numerous diplomatic missions were present, underscoring the importance of the programme on the international stage. The British High Commission, Australian High Commission, Canadian High Commission, Indian High Commission, and the embassies of Japan, China, Switzerland, and the Netherlands attended the conference.
In addition to these diplomatic entities, key international development organisations, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), were also in attendance, further demonstrating global recognition of Sri Lanka’s environmental ambitions.
Also present were officials from Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Employment and Tourism, and various affiliated departments, all of whom played a key role in facilitating the discussions.
These stakeholders discussed the country’s environmental priorities and explored how international collaboration could drive long-term success for the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme.
