Bilateral meeting with H.E. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka

Colombo – FAO Director-General QU Dongyu had a meeting with His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, on the margins of the 37th Session of the FAO Regional Ministerial Conference for Asia and the Pacific held in Colombo.  

The Director-General commended the President’s leadership in navigating Sri Lanka through the recent economic crisis and subsequent reforms and assured the President of FAO’s unwavering support to both the government and the people of Sri Lanka during these critical times.

President Wickremesinghe provided an overview of the progress made in the country’s ongoing recovery efforts. He highlighted the importance of introducing an agriculture modernization project to enhance the sector’s productivity and sustainability and sought FAO’s collaboration and assistance in implementing this initiative, underscoring the pivotal role of agriculture in Sri Lanka’s economic development.

The Director-General in turn emphasized the need for data and governance, particularly, the critical role of breaking data silos and having big data as the foundation for effective policies and future planning. QU highlighted the need to improve governance for the delivery of services where provincial levels of government play a crucial role. The two also delved into ways to enhance the climate resilience of Sri Lankan agriculture, focusing on both mitigating and adapting to climate change. The Director-General invited the President to the World Food Forum in October 2024 at FAO headquarters in Rome.

The Director-General also highlighted the importance of food safety in the country and the need to have strong protocols and regulations for the same. The key role of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, together with other relevant instruments, was also discussed as a way to further promote food safety in Sri Lanka.

The Director-General also met with The Honorable M. U. M. Ali Sabry, Minister for Foreign Affairs and The Honorable Amaraweera Mahinda, Minister for Agriculture and Plantation Industries the same day.