UN General Assembly
2023

This year, as a result of exogenous shocks and debt, the incremental progress we were proud to have achieved has been reversed. Food inflation costs put significant pressure on food security amongst vulnerable communities. At the same time, children’s education and nutrition have suffered due to the pandemic and the economic crisis. In parallel, last month in Sri Lanka we were grappling with the driest weather spell seen in recent years, followed by torrential rainfalls. Adverse climate outcomes are spilling over into our tight fiscal space just as we begin to stabilize from last year’s economic crisis. As Sri Lanka is a climate-vulnerable developing country in debt crisis, the urgent need to mobilize climate finance is greater today than it ever was before. However, despite promises made to which we were all witness, the rich countries are not delivering to expectation. Developed countries must do their part and fulfil what they have agreed to. assume their share of the common but differentiated responsibility, and provide assistance for mitigation, adaptation and compensation for loss and damage.