Sri Lanka’s best practices featured at IOM workshop on global governance of migration

Minister of Health, nutrition and indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka Dr. Rajitha Senaratne was an invited panellist at the first workshop for this year by the International Dialogue on Migration (IDM), organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) from 26-27 March at the United Nations in New York.  

The panel titled ‘SDGs achievement: national and regional perspectives’ featuring Sri Lanka, was held on the first day of the two day workshop on 26 March, where Sri Lanka’s presentation focused on the important area of migration and health. 

Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York Ambassador Sabarullah Khan delivered Minister Senaratne’s remarks on his behalf and participated in the interactive dialogue that followed as Minister Senaratne had to cancel his travel to New York due to unavoidable circumstances. 

In Minister Senaratne’s remarks, he said that migration and its contributions, both economic and social, are an integral part of Sri Lanka’s development agenda. The minister had also pointed out the various partnerships, tools and efforts that Sri Lanka had taken to engage relevant stakeholders, stating that: “We have realised that we have to work together towards moving mountains and sustainable development for us is dependent on how other countries perceive this as well. The global compact is intended to support this type of commitment that all of us, as member states, should be concerned with,” the minister’s statement said.    

Sri Lanka’s delegation to the IDM workshop included Ministry of Foreign Employment Additional Secretary M.I. Ameer, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Additional General Manager (Corporate Affairs) M.A.C.K. Premasiri and Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Deputy General Manager (Admin and HR) M.R.C.B. Ekanayake.