Sri Lanka reaffirms its Strong Commitment to Regional Efforts on Food Security

25-Apr-2026

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Sri Lanka has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional initiatives aimed at ensuring nutritious and sustainable food security through enhanced cooperation and coordinated action at the 38th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific.

The conference was held from 20–24 April in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, with the participation of ministers from across the Asia-Pacific region.

The main objective of the conference was to harness agricultural potential in the region to ensure food security for all and enable farmers to benefit from technology and trade. In his opening address, the Crown Prince of Brunei called on regional countries to work together to strengthen food security and resilience.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu stressed that resilience must be built within the region itself, noting that external assistance cannot be sustainable without collective regional commitment.

Addressing the conference virtually, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha emphasized the need to develop sustainable and resilient agricultural systems to address rising challenges such as climate change, market volatility, and food insecurity. He further stated that Sri Lanka prioritises strengthening domestic production, reducing import dependency, and improving the livelihoods of farming communities.