President and UN Secretary-General Discuss Economic Recovery and Climate Prosperity Plan at Summit in Paris

President Ranil Wickremesinghe held a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact on Tuesday (22). The meeting served as an opportunity for President Wickremesinghe to provide an update on the progress made in Sri Lanka's economic recovery and debt restructuring efforts, as well as to present the Government's ambitious climate prosperity plan.

During the meeting, President Wickremesinghe apprised Secretary General Guterres of the significant strides achieved in the process of economic recovery and the ongoing initiatives to restructure the country's debt. The President highlighted the government's commitment to implementing sustainable economic policies and fostering a resilient financial framework to ensure long-term stability.

Additionally, President Wickremesinghe briefed Secretary General Guterres on the Government's climate prosperity plan, outlining the comprehensive strategies aimed at mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change while promoting sustainable development. The plan emphasises the importance of renewable energy, conservation efforts, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Expressing his unwavering support, Secretary General Guterres assured President Wickremesinghe of the United Nations' strong commitment to assisting Sri Lanka in its economic recovery and debt sustainability endeavours. Furthermore, Guterres commended the progress made by Sri Lanka in achieving the country's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognising the efforts undertaken to address pressing social and environmental challenges.

The meeting between President Wickremesinghe and Secretary General Guterres underscored the collaborative spirit between Sri Lanka and the United Nations in tackling the multifaceted issues of economic recovery, debt restructuring, and climate change. It highlighted the importance of international cooperation in fostering sustainable and inclusive growth for Sri Lanka while achieving the SDGs.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe attended the second day of the Global Leaders’ Summit for a New Global Financing Pact today (23).

Today's Head of State session was presided over by French President Emmanuel Macron, while President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, European Commission President Ursula Vander Leyen, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, World Bank President Ajay Banga, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristlina Georgieva, and other representatives, including Foreign Ministers, Finance Ministers, Climate Activists, and other officials from many countries, joined this session.