Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to an inclusive national reconciliation framework, during a high-level meeting with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Mr. Marc-André Franche. The discussion took place in Parliament as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the partnership between the Government of Sri Lanka and the UN system.
Mr. Franche underscored the United Nations’ continued engagement with Sri Lanka, highlighting key areas of cooperation such as social protection, public healthcare, and reconciliation. He reiterated the UN’s readiness to assist the country in achieving its development priorities, particularly those centered on building lasting peace and improving social equity.
During the dialogue, Mr. Franche also notified the Prime Minister of the planned official visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, set to take place in June 2025. The visit is expected to further the international community’s support for Sri Lanka’s post-conflict accountability and human rights agenda.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya used the occasion to highlight the urgent need for a reconciliation process that genuinely reflects the aspirations and lived realities of all communities across the island. “Reconciliation must go beyond rhetoric. It has to be grounded in truth, justice, and a shared vision for the future,” she stated.
In a broader reflection on global humanitarian issues, the Prime Minister also expressed deep concern over the worsening situation in Gaza. She urged the international community to show greater empathy and involvement in alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people, calling for renewed solidarity and cooperative action.
Also present at the meeting were several senior officials and advisers from both the Sri Lankan government and the UN system. These included Head of the UN Office in Colombo Andreas Karpathi, UN Peace and Development Adviser Nethmini Medawala, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Sagarika Bogahawatte, and Dayani Mendis, Director General of the UN and Human Rights Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The engagement marked a continued effort by the Sri Lankan government to align its development and reconciliation agenda with global best practices and international support structures.
