UN advises GoSL on economic recovery

UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche emphasized that Sri Lanka’s ongoing path of economic recovery and reforms need a more responsive, accountable public service, improved service delivery, economic modernization, and strengthened social dialogue at both national and local levels. The UN official asserted that social dialogue is key to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and social cohesion.

The UN Resident Coordinator was addressing the second steering committee meeting of the Social Dialogue for Peace and Crisis Prevention in Sri Lanka project, a collaborative initiative between the Government of Sri Lanka, and the United Nations held recently at the UN Compound in Colombo. The meeting, chaired by the UN, Ministry of Public Administration, Local Government & Provincial Councils, and Ministry of Labour, focussed on progress in advancing social dialogue, dispute resolution, and public sector inclusion.

Launched in 2024, the project, is implemented by the UN through the International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The project aims to foster a peaceful, inclusive, and just response to the effects of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. This is achieved through social dialogue and dispute resolution mechanisms at both national and local levels.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Justice, workers’ and employers’ organization, to discuss the project’s progress and key developments. Highlights of recent efforts include establishing six public sector workplace forums, conducting awareness sessions on social dialogue and workplace cooperation for priority sectors, as well as training on gender responsive public service delivery. These efforts foster conflict resolution, harmonious workplaces, and a culture of social dialogue.

The Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Local Government & Provincial Councils, underscored the salient role of the public sector in economic recovery efforts, and the importance of a sector equipped for both a stronger, efficient service delivery to public and private sectors.

The Secretary, Ministry of Labour emphasized the importance of social dialogue in the public sector both within institutions as well as externally which would lead to a collective voice and maintaining industrial peace.

The Additional Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Local Government and Provincial Councils, commended the project for creating additional platforms to interact with public officials at all levels.

The pilot phase of the project saw success in the railway sector, where 10 workplace forums were established, helping minimize service disruptions. The project also aims to develop a national industrial dispute database to support policymaking, enhance gender responsiveness in the public sector, and amplify community voices in national policy making structures.

The project is funded by the UN Sri Lanka SDG Fund with support from Canada, European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, the UN Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund and the Joint SDG Fund.