Overall Objective
Sri Lanka became GGGI’s thirtieth member in 2019 and GGGI is fully committed to supporting the government of Sri Lanka as it strives to achieve its sustainable development and NDC goals. The Ministry of Environment is GGGI’s direct government counterpart, and GGGI is embedded within the Ministry of Environment, with a close working relationship with the Ministry of Transport and Highways and other agencies, in line with GGGI’s unique in-country model, where it is considered a neutral, trusted advisor and strategic development partner embedded in Member governments.
The GGGI Sri Lanka Country Planning Framework (CPF) 2021-2024, lays out the priority strategic interventions for GGGI’s program in Sri Lanka, which were jointly identified with government through a series of consultations. The CPF supports the positioning of green development in the country as an urgent priority. Key strategic thematic areas include:
(1) enhancing climate resilience through the strengthening of the national adaptation planning process
(2) establishing energy-efficient and environmental-friendly transport systems
(3) promoting the uptake of green energy and enhanced energy efficiency through support to improve the enabling environment and developing bankable projects
(4) promoting sustainable landscapes (forest cover increase/mangroves restoration), and
(5) other emerging areas such as mobilizing innovative green financing instruments circular economy and waste management
Sri Lanka was elected as Vice President of the Assembly and Vice Chair of the Council of GGGI in October 2022 at the 11th Session of the Assembly and 15th Session of the Council (Joint Session) of the GGGI held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, and will serve in this role for a 2-year period, starting in January 2023.
Contact
Sonali Senaratna Sellamuttu
Country Representative Sri Lanka and Team Leader GCF NAP Program
Government Counterpart
Ministry of Environment
Ministry of Transport & Highways
Context
Sri Lanka, a developing country with a population of 21.7 million, has been transitioning from a predominantly rural-based economy to a more urbanized economy, oriented towards manufacturing and services. Sri Lanka’s economy is highly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, forestry, and energy. In 2020, the Global Risk Index ranked Sri Lanka as the sixth country at most risk owing to severe monsoon rains, flooding, and landslides, that pose a great threat to natural resources, economic growth, and the well-being of the population. While Sri Lanka’s greenhouse gas emissions are very low (representing less than 0.1% of global emissions and per capita emissions at 0.6tCO2e), the expansion in urbanization comes with an increasing concern on municipal solid and industrial waste generation and disposal and the pollution of freshwater resources. Additionally, the growing demand for land has meant that deforestation has become a challenge. The impact of COVID19 on the economy has had significant implications on welfare. This has been further compounded in 2022, by an unprecedented economic and energy crisis facing the island nation, the worst experienced since independence. Against this backdrop, the GGGI Sri Lanka program will contribute to supporting the long-term recovery process in the country, which would entail following a green development agenda.
News
News • February 13, 2023
Green Growth Takes the Stage: Sri Lanka Hosts High-Level Event on Climate Action
The Ministry of Environment and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) organized a High-Level Event on Strategies and Actions to Accelerate Sri Lanka’s Transition to a Green Growth Pathway on 6th February 2023. The event aimed to complement ongoing efforts to transform Sri Lanka’s development, by formalizing the application of a green growth model. Under […]
News • February 8, 2023
Sri Lanka and Global Green Growth Institute Sign Host Country Agreement for Climate Action
7 February 2023, Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Government of Sri Lanka and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) signed a Host Country Agreement (HCA) progressing Sri Lanka’s climate action. Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Environment of Sri Lanka and Dr. Frank Rijsberman Director General of GGGI signed the HCA enabling Government of Sri […]