The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Manisha Gunasekera, met with the Director-General of UNESCO, Khaled El-Enany, at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris recently (19 Dec) for a discussion on UNESCO’s emergency assistance and medium- to long-term support to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah.
According to the Embassy of Sri Lanka & Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO in Paris, the Ambassador briefed the Director-General on the scale of the disaster and the Government’s rebuilding plan, and conveyed the Government’s appreciation for UNESCO’s prompt mobilization of emergency assistance under the Heritage Emergency Fund to support the stabilization and conservation of flood-damaged archival records.
The Director-General extended condolences to the Government and people of Sri Lanka and reaffirmed UNESCO’s support and solidarity. He outlined UNESCO’s intention to pursue an integrated intersectoral response aligned with Sri Lanka’s needs, including cultural heritage recovery, education-sector support focusing on schools and psychosocial assistance, and technical cooperation to strengthen hydrological risk assessment and early warning systems through UNESCO’s scientific programmes. Support will be extended through UNESCO’s Regional Office in New Delhi.
While conveying Sri Lanka’s best wishes on his election and assumption of office, the Ambassador handed over a congratulatory message from Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, and reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to supporting the mandate of UNESCO.
The Director-General expressed appreciation to the Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, Harini Amarasuriya, and to Minister Vijitha Herath, for Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with UNESCO.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the UNESCO Secretariat, including the Chief of Section for Crisis Preparedness and Response, Ahmed Zaouche; the Chief of Section for Relations with Member States, Omar Monieb; and the Chief of Unit for Asia and the Pacific, Priority Africa and External Relations Sector, Manh Ha Tran. The Ambassador was accompanied by the Minister/UNESCO of the Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka, Rifa Wadood.
