Sabry uses UN General Assembly to seek global support for SL to build back better

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry on Saturday sought for cooperation and support of the international community including the United Nations for Sri Lanka’s new resolve to “build back better” with political, economic and social reforms following the unprecedented crisis faced by the country.

Addressing the UN’s 77th General Assembly in New York, Sabry said measures include a review of the present procedures, the strengthening of the institutional framework of democratic governance and adoption of urgent measures to restore long term economic stability. 

“We have understood that this will only be possible if we engage in a strict adherence to fiscal discipline and far reaching economic and institutional reforms,” he said, stressing Sri Lanka is committed to that process.

He said it is envisaged that through the proposed legislative and constitutional amendments, democratic governance will be reinforced with independent oversight institutions as well as with enhanced public scrutiny. Legal and administrative frameworks are being strengthened to ensure transparency, integrity, accountability and inclusivity in providing access to justice. A greater participation of women and youth will be ensured in this process.

“We remain cognisant of and acutely sensitive to the events that have taken place in the recent past. The Government is extremely sensitive to the socio-economic hardships faced by our people. We are pleased to have reached a Staff-Level understanding with the IMF. We have put in place measures to protect the vulnerable segments of society and will endeavour to ensure that these economic reforms will have a minimum impact on their lives. Our institutions and society have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of very difficult circumstances,” Foreign Minister said.

“We unconditionally recognise the fact that one has a fundamental right to the freedom of expression, which we all treat as being sacrosanct. However, it must also be appreciated that this freedom must be within the constitutional order, and must be exercised having regard to one’s fundamental duty to express oneself within the confines of the law,” he said.

Sabry also said despite severe challenges, Sri Lanka will endeavour to maintain the significant progress we have made towards achieving the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

“We have a Charter and a formidable body of international law inclusive of our supreme law of the Constitution of the Republic and other local statutes. We are acutely conscious of the fact that notwithstanding all these sophistications, multipronged challenges remain. 

“The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to overcoming these challenges. It is to that commitment that Sri Lanka pledges today, in the sincere hope that we will exploit the crisis that is at hand, build back better, leaving no one behind and rise to new horizons of freedom and progress,” Foreign Minister said.