The Member States of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) express their deepest condolences to the governments and peoples of Myanmar and Thailand in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake of 7.7 magnitude that struck central Myanmar on 28 March 2025.

This tragic event has caused immense loss of life, injuries, and widespread damage, particularly in the areas surrounding the epicenter. The tremors were also felt in neighboring countries. BIMSTEC stands in solidarity with the affected people and communities.

BIMSTEC will work through its established mechanisms to support relief and recovery efforts, including collaboration through the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate to provide critical weather information and enhance early warning systems in the region. BIMSTEC also acknowledges the importance of strengthening regional capacities for disaster management and emphasizes the earliest establishment of the BIMSTEC Disaster Management Centre.

We appreciate efforts of the BIMSTEC Member States in providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to Myanmar.

BIMSTEC remains resolute in its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in disaster management, climate change and humanitarian assistance, effectively mitigating the impact of natural disasters, and working towards a Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC, in accordance with the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited Hamburg, Germany, focusing on strengthening vocational education and economic partnerships between the two nations. During her visit, she participated in the 102nd East Asia Friendship Dinner, met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and engaged in high-level discussions on investment, education, and economic reforms.

As a Guest of Honour at the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV) annual gathering, Prime Minister Amarasuriya addressed an audience of business leaders and dignitaries, emphasizing Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and its potential as a growing investment destination. She highlighted the contributions of over 160 German companies in Sri Lanka and invited further collaboration in trade and business.

In her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, the Prime Minister delivered a keynote speech at the ’German-Asian Forum on Vocational Education & Training.’ She acknowledged Germany’s decades-long support in Sri Lanka’s vocational education sector and stressed the importance of modernizing vocational training to align with industry demands. Additionally, she visited ITECH vocational school and German research hubs such as NXP Semiconductors and DESY, discussing collaboration in IT and technology-driven industries.

During her discussions with President Steinmeier, Prime Minister Amarasuriya reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to economic stability, social protection, and national unity. She also attended a business roundtable, where she engaged with German companies and government representatives on economic expansion, digitalization, and sustainable development initiatives.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Germany, Varuni Muthukumarana, and senior embassy officials.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

© Bundesregierung/Marvin Ibo Güngör

On the sidelines of the International Expert Conference on the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura at UNESCO, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya undertook a series of high-level engagements in the bilateral sphere, during her official visit to France from 31 March to 2 April. The meetings were undertaken with a view to further consolidating the existing multifaceted partnership between Sri Lanka and France across a broad range of sectors.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya had a meeting with the former Prime Minister and the Minister of State for National Education, Higher Education and Research E lisabeth Borne at the Ministry of Education on 1 April 2025. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest including education, higher education and vocational training; cooperation in the Indian Ocean; maritime affairs; climate action; and exchange of high-level visits; among other spheres. Both sides took note of the upward momentum in Sri Lanka – France bilateral relations, and reiterated the shared interest to build further on existing synergies.

On the invitation of the French Government, the Prime Minister also attended the ConcludingSegment of the SOS Ocean Conference organized by the Government of France in partnership with the Oceano Azul Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies at Muse de l’Homme on 31 March 2025. The Conference was organised with the attendance of Heads of State and Government in the run up to the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), with the aim of setting up an action plan to protect the seas as the world’s oceans face unprecedented threats from pollution and climate change.

Addressing the Conference the Prime Minister reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s unwavering commitment to ocean conservation, sustainable marine governance, ecosystem restoration and enhanced regional cooperation, as an island nation located in the heart of the Indian Ocean. The Prime Minister underscored Sri Lanka’s advocation of enhanced regional cooperation on biodiversity protection, plastic pollution, and in building a sustainable and resilient blue economy. She also reiterated Sri Lanka’s interest in the upcoming UNOC3 which will be held in Nice in June this year.

During the Conference, the Prime Minister also had occasion to meet and exchange greetings with the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron who conveyed his warm greetings to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. President Macron delivered the concluding remarks at the Conference. The Prime Minister also interacted and exchanged greetings with H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, the former President of Chile and the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, and the President of the European Council Anto nio Costa who also addressed the high-level segments of the Conference.

The Prime Minister was hosted to a breakfast meeting by the President of the France - Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the French Senate on 2 April 2025. The President of the Friendship Group Senator Vanina Paoli-Gagin warmly welcomed the Prime Minister to the Senate and the discussions underscored the importance of France – Sri Lanka relations, especially in the context of the Indian Ocean, and avenues of further elevating friendship and cooperation building on the existing synergies. The Senate Friendship Group welcomed the recent formation of the counterpart Sri Lanka – France Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Sri Lanka Parliament under the presidency of the Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, with Prime Minister Amarasuriya holding the position of patron of the Group. Exchange of visits by the two parliamentary friendship groups was also discussed. A cross-party group of Senators from the Friendship Group comprising Senators Sylvie Goy-Chavent, Dany Wattebled, Didier Marie and Vivette Lopez attended the breakfast meeting with Senator Paoli-Gagin.

The Senate Friendship Group also facilitated an official tour of the historic Senate building (Luxemboug Palace) following the meeting, and the Prime Minister was invited to sign the Dignitaries Book placed in the historic Senate Library.

On the invitation of the prestigious French University ScinecesPo, Prime Minister Amarasuriya also participated in an interactive session with students titled “60 Minutes with Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka”, which was moderated by Professor Christophe Jaffrelot, Research Director CNRS and Director CERI. The event was organised by the Paris School of International Affairs and the South Asia Programme at CERI, SciencesPo, and was attended by over 250 students who engaged in a vibrant Q&A with the Prime Minister on political developments in Sri Lanka, democracy and

geopolitics of South Asia, Sri Lanka’s foreign policy imperatives, as well as multilateral issues of relevance such as climate change and migration, among other topics.

The Prime Minister also met the Director of SciencesPo Luis Vassy, and engaged in a discussion on ongoing academic collaboration between SciencesPo and Sri Lankan Universities including the University of Colombo. She also had discussions with Professor Eric Meyer, Emeritus Professor of History at Inalco (National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations), Paris, who is a specialist on Sri Lanka studies.

A “Partnership Agreement between the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education of Sri Lanka related to the improvement of French Teaching in Sri Lanka” was signed during the visit between the Sri Lankan Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France. Support for French language teaching in Sri Lanka was discussed in the context of this Agreement.

The Prime Minister also visited the Muse e Guimet which is the French National Museum of Asian Arts housing a world-renowned collection of Asian art. The Curators also showed a few artefacts from Sri Lanka available in the museum to the Prime Minister.

The delegation of the Prime Minister comprised the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi; the Director General, Central Cultural Fund Dr. Nilan Cooray and the Director General, Department of Archaeology Prof. Thusitha Mendis. The Prime Minster was assisted by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO Manisha Gunasekera and senior staff of the Sri Lanka Embassy in France.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya undertook an official visit to France from 31 March to 2 April 2025 to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on “An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage”, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on Tuesday 1 April 2025. The International Conference was organized by UNESCO in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka to showcase the universal significance of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura and its associated living heritage, and to garner international cooperation for its conservation and sustainable development.

Inaugurating the Conference, Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay warmly welcomed Prime Minister Amarasuriya to UNESCO, while recalling her own memorable visit to Sri Lanka in July 2024 where she had the valued opportunity to witness firsthand the “exceptional heritage” of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, which she described as “a spiritual hub, a royal capital of over a 1,000 years, and the birthplace of Theravada Buddhism.” Referring to the inscription of Anuradhapura in the world heritage list in 1982, she underscored the importance of global solidarity and international cooperation in safeguarding this extraordinary world heritage for posterity, and the intent of the Conference to explore further means of its conservation and sustainable development through international cooperation. In concluding her address, the Director-General recalled the words of renowned Sri Lankan archaeologist and former President of ICOMOS International Dr. Roland Silva, that Anuradhapura continues to be “a modern wonder of the world.’

Addressing the high-level segment, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya outlined Sri Lanka’s national vision to preserve the global heritage of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura for education, pilgrimage and heritage tourism, while ensuring the maintenance of a careful balance between conservation, sustainable development, and the needs of local communities. The Prime Minster also extended her deep appreciation to Director-General Azoulay for her vision and leadership which was instrumental in convening this International Conference dedicated to Anuradhapura.

Striking a personal note, the Prime Minister reminisced about her childhood and youthful memories of this heritage city, where she felt “the magic of Anuradhapura, the sense of awe at the creativity and skills of our ancestors.” She described Anuradhapura as “a unique mix of the ’sacred’ (activities belonging to the spiritual realm) and the ’profane’ (relating to the everyday and the material realm),” while also highlighting the advanced architectural and hydraulic expertise of this ancient civilization, whose origins can be traced back to 900 BCE.

Referring to UNESCO’s institutional mandate, the Prime Minister commended the organization—led by the Director-General, the secretariat, and its member states—for its invaluable contributions to advancing global discussions on education reform, mainstreaming cultural recognition, and harnessing knowledge and innovation for global peace and sustainable development amid complex geopolitical challenges.

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi presented the integrated management plan of the Government of Sri Lanka towards the sustainable and integrated management of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura. He reiterated the Sri Lanka Government’s commitment to preserving the Outstanding Universal Value of the heritage site through inclusive, sustainable development. He further urged the international community to join hands with Sri Lanka in safeguarding this shared heritage for future generations, and to ensuring that its benefits reach local communities.

The Conference brought together internationally recognized experts, senior officials of government, development partners, heritage professionals and the diplomatic corps in exploring innovative and sustainable approaches to integrated site management. The key themes discussed comprised the integration of tangible and intangible heritage, capacity building, strengthened community participation, the application of digital tools in conservation, sustainable tourism aligned with World Heritage guidelines, and the critical importance of international partnerships and resource mobilization for long-term preservation of this heritage site.

The Prime Minister had a meeting with Director-General Azoulay on the sidelines of the Expert Conference where thematic areas of cooperation were discussed. The Prime Minister highlighted Sri Lanka’s interest in enhancing UNESCO’s presence in the country through suitable programmes, and apprised the Director-General on progress in Sri Lanka’s Category II South Asia Centre for Teacher Development (SACTD), Sri Lanka’s engagement in the programme of work of UNESCO, Sri Lanka’s educational reforms and areas of synergy with UNESCO, as well as the country’s commitment to the annual celebration of Vesak in UNESCO, among other matters. The Director-General reiterated UNESCO’s continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s multifaceted collaboration with the international body.

At a reception hosted by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, in the presence of the Director-General, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of Sri Lanka’s 75-year partnership with UNESCO, and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to further strengthening this collaboration in key areas of cooperation. She did so in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Chairperson of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, and Chairperson of the Central Cultural Fund.

The Prime Minister also formally handed over to the Director-General Sri Lanka’s Instrument of Accession to the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, demonstrating the country’s commitment to promoting cultural diversity, artistic freedom, and international collaboration. Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates accredited to UNESCO, senior representation of the UNESCO Secretariat including Director and team of the World Heritage Centre, the President of the France – Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the French National Assembly, expert participants of the Conference, academics, scholars and senior officials of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs attended the reception and conveyed their warm greetings and felicitations to the Prime Minister.

The delegation of the Prime Minister comprised the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi; the Director General, Central Cultural Fund Dr. Nilan Cooray and the Director General, Department of Archaeology Prof. Thusitha Mendis. The Prime Minster was assisted by the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO Manisha Gunasekera and senior staff of the Embassy and the Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is on an official visit to Paris, France to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on ’An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage’ which will be held at UNESCO Headquarters on Tuesday 1 April, with the participation of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.

The Conference, organized by UNESCO in partnership with Sri Lanka, brings together leading international experts to discuss sustainable strategies for the conservation of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense cultural and historical significance.

On the sidelines of the Conference, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior interlocutors of the French Government to discuss bilateral cooperation and areas of mutual interest.

The Delegation of the Prime Minister includes the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.

Prime Minister’s Media Division

As our Islamic brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka and around the world celebrate the sacred month of Ramadan, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes for peace, prosperity, and spiritual fulfillment.

Ramadan is a time of deep reflection, prayer, and self-discipline. It is a period that teaches us the values of compassion, generosity, and unity. Fasting during this holy month is not only an act of devotion but also a reminder of the struggles faced by those less fortunate. It is a time to cultivate patience, humility, and gratitude while strengthening our bonds with family, friends, and the community.

At its core, Ramadan embodies the spirit of kindness, forgiveness, and charity. The practice of Zakat and Sadaqah during this time highlights the importance of sharing with those in need and reinforcing the principle that true prosperity lies in giving and uplifting others. These values are universal and resonate deeply with all communities, fostering harmony and understanding among people of different faiths and backgrounds.

Sri Lanka is a nation rich in diversity, and it is through mutual respect and solidarity that we continue to strengthen our collective future. The spirit of Ramadan reminds us of the need for coexistence, tolerance, and the pursuit of justice and peace.

As the month of fasting culminates in the joyous celebration of Eid, let us carry forward the lessons of Ramadan—compassion, unity, and selflessness—into our daily lives. May this blessed month bring peace to our hearts, our homes, and our nation.

Ramadan Mubarak!

Dr.Harini Amarasuriya
Prime Minister
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
31st March 2025