Sri Lanka at UNESCO

The Official Account of the Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO 🇱🇰

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

"We reiterate the case for strengthening UNESCO's footprint in Sri Lanka, where the growing scope of cooperation warrants enhanced in-country coordination"

Speaking at the 225th Executive Board Session at @UNESCO, Ambassador @SugeeshwaraG said that lasting peace rests on the intellectual and moral solidarity of humanity. #SriLanka called for #UNESCO80 reform that is inclusive, transparent and driven by Member States, with measurable results and full respect for the Organization's mandate.

On the 44 C/5, Sri Lanka welcomed the focus on intersectorality under the themes of peace, AI, climate resilience and crisis preparedness. It urged that budget scenarios protect the field network and asked that Category 2 Centres, UNESCO Chairs and National Commissions receive the due attention in the reviews.

On education, the Ambassador highlighted Sri Lanka's role on the #SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee in 2027, with Prime Minister @Dr_Harini in the Leaders Group. The attention that Sri Lanka gives to teachers and foundational learning was highlighted as reflected in the renewal of the @SATCD_LK, a UNESCO Category 2 Centre hosted by Sri Lanka.

@EXBChairperson @UNESCO_DG

[UNESCO @UNESCO]

Education plays a part. 📚

Only 43% of countries have integrated Media and Information Literacy into their national curricula. As AI, digital platforms and information overload transform how learners access information, these skills are more essential than ever.

Bring MIL into your classroom. Play your part: https://t.co/aGaTul3MyN

#GlobalMILWeek #WeAllPlayAPart

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

"We must recognise a simple truth: no one is secure until all are secure. The safety and dignity of the Palestinian people are essential to peace in the Middle East—and peace in the Middle East is essential to global security."

Intervention by Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of #SriLanka to UNESCO @SugeeshwaraG under agenda item “Impact and consequences of the current situation in the Gaza Strip/Palestine in all aspects of UNESCO’s mandate” at the 225th Session of @UNESCO Executive Board

https://t.co/KoZgWLOFUa

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

On the International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), we celebrate the living traditions that carry #SriLanka's identity from one generation to the next.

Proclaimed by @UNESCO in 2023, 17 October marks the anniversary of the 2003 Convention, which Sri Lanka ratified in 2008.

Sri Lanka is proud to have three elements on UNESCO's ICH Representative List:

Rūkada Nātya (2018): the traditional string puppet drama of the southern coast, bringing folktales, Buddhist stories and history to life.

Dumbara Rata Kalala (2021): the handwoven Dumbara mats, a craft passed from parents to children.

Kithul Madeema / Kithul Kapeema (2025): the ancient indigenous technology of tapping the Kithul palm, reflecting a deep bond between communities and nature.

These traditions are far more than echoes of the past. They are living knowledge, kept alive by craftspeople, performers and rural communities across the island. Safeguarding them begins with supporting these communities and passing their knowledge to the next generation.

@SriUnesco @unescoindia

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

"UNESCO's work should be measured by its impact on people and communities in Member States."

Intervention by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of #SriLanka to UNESCO @SugeeshwaraG, under agenda item "Preliminary proposals by the Director-General concerning the Draft Programme and Budget for 2028–2029 (44 C/5)" at the 225th Session of @UNESCO Executive Board

https://t.co/Tb4rdhVzCd

[UNESCO @UNESCO]

#LivingHeritage exists because people keep it alive.

Across all regions, bearers, practitioners, civil society organisations, cultural and academic institutions and national and local authorities are working together to safeguard, transmit and celebrate living heritage.

Passed down from generation to generation, these traditions and practices provide communities with a sense of continuity and belonging.

On the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, @UNESCO recognises and celebrates the living heritage present in our communities and beyond: the knowledge, practices, craftsmanship, foodways, rituals, performing arts and social customs that connect people across generations and cultures.

🔗 https://t.co/IE8oLkT6zv

#IntangibleHeritage #ForThePeople

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

“As UNESCO80 moves from design to delivery, Sri Lanka supports a reform that is measurable, people-centred and responsive to all Member States."

Intervention by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of #SriLanka to @UNESCO @SugeeshwaraG under agenda item "Implementation of the UNESCO80 Roadmap" at the 225th Session of UNESCO Executive Board.

https://t.co/5oLriZ0ufO

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

“As UNESCO's field network evolves, Sri Lanka supports a reform that brings UNESCO closer to Member States, where presence follows function, rests on reliable data and reflects national priorities."

Intervention by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of #SriLanka to @UNESCO @SugeeshwaraG under agenda item "Sustainability of the field network" at the 225th Session of UNESCO Executive Board

https://t.co/vJdtCgHzQZ

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

“Equitable representation of countries among UNESCO staff is not only a matter of how many are represented, but also of ensuring that this presence is sustained across all levels.”

Intervention by @RifaWadood, Minister, Permanent Delegation of #SriLanka to @UNESCO under agenda item "Geographical distribution and gender balance of the staff of the Secretariat" at the 225th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board.

https://t.co/bhDiKJFxlK

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

“Education for peace must remain within reach of every Member State.”

Intervention by @RifaWadood, Permanent Delegation of #SriLanka to @UNESCO under agenda item 7, "Follow-up to 222 EX/Decision 7 relating to the 2023 Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development", at the 225th session of the UNESCO Executive Board.

https://t.co/NPiiciXpHW

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

“Sri Lanka underlines the importance of recognising culture within the post-2030 sustainable development agenda, building on the progress achieved at COP30, and welcomes the forthcoming regional dialogue on return and restitution of cultural property for Asia and the Pacific.”

Intervention by @RifaWadood, Minister, Permanent Delegation of #SriLanka to @UNESCO under agenda item "UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development – MONDIACULT 2025" at the 225th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board.

https://t.co/c5iCrXvq3X

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

"Our traditional culture is not a dusty relic. It is a compass for one’s identity, a foundation for one’s well-being, and a bridge to one’s future. In a world that is constantly telling us who to be, it is a powerful reminder of who we are. It is our birthright."

On 1 October, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, @SugeeshwaraG, addressed the International Conference on Peace at @UNESCO, speaking in the roundtable 'The Importance of Traditional Culture for Youth Well-Being.' The Ambassador emphasized that traditional culture is an essential anchor for youth identity, belonging, and resilience in an increasingly globalized world. Drawing upon #SriLanka's educational heritage and cultural practices, he called upon young people to become active custodians of their traditions, integrating ancestral wisdom with modern tools to build a more connected and healthy society.

[Sri Lanka in France 🇱🇰 @SLinFrance]

𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐧

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France, @SugeeshwaraG, presented his Letters of Credence to the President of the French Republic, @EmmanuelMacron, at the Élysée Palace on Monday, 5th October 2026.

Following the presentation of Credentials, Ambassador Gunaratna had a brief meeting with President Macron, during which he conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes of the President of
Sri Lanka, @anuradisanayake. He highlighted the vibrant long-standing bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and France and expressed Sri Lanka’s strong interest in further expanding and deepening cooperation across political, economic, trade, maritime, and cultural spheres, as well as in multilateral fora.

President Macron extended his warm greetings to the President, the Government, and the people of Sri Lanka, reaffirming France's shared commitment to further strengthening existing ties and multifaceted cooperation across all sectors.

Both sides acknowledged that President Macron's historic visit to Sri Lanka in July 2023 served as a vital catalyst, reinvigorating and elevating bilateral relations to new heights.

Earlier, on 2nd July 2026, upon assuming duties in Paris as Ambassador-designate and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Gunaratna presented the open copy of his Letter of Credence to the Deputy Director of State Protocol and Diplomatic Events of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mathieu Carmona.

A career diplomat with over 25 years of service, Ambassador Gunaratna previously served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union; Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York; and Deputy High Commissioner to the UK. He has also served in diplomatic positions at the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi and at the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Colombo, post-graduate qualifications from Centennial College, Canada, and is an alumnus of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia.

06 October 2026
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Paris

#DiplomacyLk #lka

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

Today, the Permanent Delegation of #SriLanka was honoured to join Member States in welcoming His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to @UNESCO, 46 years after the historic visit of Pope John Paul II.

On behalf of the Government and people of Sri Lanka, Ambassador @SugeeshwaraG inscribed a message of peace in the symbolic Book of Honour, appreciating His Holiness's commitment to peace, dialogue and human dignity, and seeking his blessings for Sri Lanka and the world.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Director-General, Prof. Khaled El-Enany, and the UNESCO Secretariat for this historic occasion.

[Sri Lanka at UNESCO @SLatUNESCO]

Intervention by the Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to @UNESCO under agenda item "Examination by the External auditor of all aspects and financial impacts of post reclassification and staff appointment and promotion during the 2024–2025 Biennium" at the Preparatory Group Meeting of the 225th Session of UNESCO Executive Board