Remarks by the United Nations Resident Coordinator at the National SDG Forum

My sincere appreciation to the Sustainable Development Council for its leadership in organizing this timely forum as the world gears-up for the SDG Summit in New York as a prelude to this years’ General Assembly.  

I think there are at least two key takeaways from the presentations:  

First, as the SDG Dashboard demonstrates and as underlined by the President, there is considerable urgency in raising investments, including from new and creative sources, towards the 2030 Agenda.

This matters as the indicators we’re measuring are not just numbers – they represent commitments to all Sri Lankans to stimulate economic growth, improve essential services, better adapt to climate change and create a more inclusive society.

No country can afford to see these commitments fail.

While progress has been made on many SDGs in Sri Lanka, including through the efforts of many here today, it is also clear that entrenched challenges remain. 

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Second, as the SDG Insights Report shows, there are no simple answers or easy solutions.

Even after identifying key accelerators, we are facing challenges that requiring comprehensive policies and whole-of-society approaches.

In other words, it’s not only what you do that matters but also how the decisions are taken, specially given the limited fiscal space. The politics of change are critical.   

Sri Lanka is not alone in facing these unprecedented hurdles.

Globally, only 12 percent of the SDG targets are on track. Many developing countries face tremendous debt issues with one in three countries at high risk of a fiscal crisis.

To rescue the SDGs, there is no way around ambitious new national commitments on sustainable and inclusive development. 

As underlined by our Secretary General, business as usual will not work.

In fact, rescuing the SDGs will require nothing short of a fundamental change in the way the global economy is organized.

This is why he has called for a sea change in financing through an SDG Stimulus Plan, the implementation of a meaningful loss and damage fund, and for deep reforms to the international financial architecture.

The organizations’ advocacy to strengthen global economic governance, delivering debt relief, lowering the cost of sovereign borrowing, increasing development lending including climate financing and improving the terms of lending, resonates deeply to us here in Sri Lanka.

I am encouraged to see Sri Lanka playing an active role in driving these agendas, notably on climate and debt justice or as the host of the 5th Session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific.

I am confident that today’s Forum will emerge as an important milestone to reinvigorate the country’s determination and help set priorities and sequencing in a consensual way.   

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As we analyse together where we stand with the SDGs, I want to underline four  critical enablers which we believe require our collective investments and have a key role across multiple SDGs.

First, bold decisions on governance: recognizing that a comprehensive reform programme requires comprehensive oversight mechanisms and accountability.

To this end, the UN looks forward continuing our support for the role parliament in the administration of this country, for instance through improved committee work.  

Or helping officials with the right capacities to eliminate corruption from the public sphere, so that the population benefiting from the full wealth of the country. To this effect, we welcome the Anti-Corruption Bill passed in Parliament last month.

Second, action to strengthen critical state administrative capacity: to back up an ambitious vision with effective systems within government, so that we can guarantee consistently high-quality public services across the island. Whether in Colombo, Kandy or Kilinochchi.

To help strengthen these systems, the United Nations will continue to make our technical expertise available - be it the Finance Ministry, the Justice Ministry or Provincial Councils.

Our close partnership with authorities towards an efficient, inclusive and independent justice system is a key example in this regard. 

Third, efforts to increase policy coherence: to ensure that decisions contribute to effective advancement towards the 2030 Agenda. 

To this end an important first step would be agreeing on a clear national development plan with priority outcomes for the Sri Lankan people.

This is important given the interdependence of challenges which cannot be tackled by a single policy or ministry.  For example, how can the food system become more productive, green and supportive of livelihoods and growth?

To help find practical solutions faced with complexity and difficult trade-offs, the UN will continue to connect stakeholders– be it farmer organizations, researchers, or private sector actors.

Finally, a commitment to re-energise the social contract is critical.

Strengthening the relationship between citizens and the state as well as democratic practices at all levels, especially as we navigate the process of economic recovery following the repeated stresses of the last few years.  

The UN stands ready to work with all stakeholders to help bolster an inclusive and participatory society. This includes working with the criminal justice system, institutions dedicated to dealing with the past, or efforts to understand and counter hate speech and disinformation, to name just a few.

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Sri Lanka can grow out of the economic crisis, but also use this opportunity to take courageous decisions and build an economic and governance model that is inclusive and sustainable, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

No society has developed because of the United Nations or the international community, but we can support and accompany national leaders and institutions which drive development.  You can count on the entire UN team in Sri Lanka in achieving the bold commitments of the 2030 Agenda.  

Thank you very much.