Dialogue with civil society highlighted the long-term impact of conflict, ongoing challenges with land access, and the need for stronger economic opportunities—insights that are essential to shaping more inclusive development efforts in the Northern Province.

Continuing close cooperation w/ District Secretariats is crucial to address challenges facing the Northern Prov. UN in Sri Lanka thanks District Secretaries of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mulaitivu & Vavuniya for key insights on development & avenues for engagement in the region.

Stronger economic resilience is🔑to advancing social cohesion & the #SDGs. In Jaffna, UN in Sri Lanka engaged academia, state & private sector on investment & reducing barriers to economic participation. Creating opportunities for conflict-affected communities remains a priority.

Displaced persons & refugee returnees face challenges in accessing land, housing and livelihoods. Through the 🇺🇳🇱🇰 SDG Fund, UN in Sri Lanka, via UNDP in Sri Lanka IOM Sri Lanka and the Maldives, supports the GoSL in ensuring safe, dignified resettlement and economic reintegration.

The UN in Sri Lanka Team visited resettled communities in Palaly, Tellipalai and Myliddy, hearing from families rebuilding their lives after displacement. Access to housing, livelihoods and essential services remains critical for sustainable recovery and lasting stability.

The UN in Sri Lanka met with local entrepreneurs in Kokuvil & Poongudutheevu who are driving change & creating jobs w/ ILO Sri Lanka & the Maldives IOM Sri Lanka and the Maldives & UNDP in Sri Lanka support. The visits highlighted the importance of expanding market access & support to help small enterprises grow.

Glad to return to Palaly & Tellipalai & meet families rebuilding after displacement. Progress is visible, but many challenges remain. For these families, land is more than just property—it’s identity, dignity & security. UN in Sri Lanka committed to supporting dignified resettlement.

Celebrating 70 years of the UN in Sri Lanka🎉 Marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and 70 years of UN in Sri Lanka, the UNCT🇺🇳 brought together partners from across sectors in Jaffna to reflect on decades of collaboration and strengthen partnerships for the road ahead.

"Sri Lanka has gained a lot from its partnership w/ the United Nations, but we too are a better organisation because of Sri Lanka. While we're part of your history—we also look forward to being part of your future." 🇺🇳RC Marc-André Franche on 70 years of partnership between the UN & Sri Lanka🇱🇰

Many thanks to the Shanthiham Association for Health & Counselling for hosting me for a visit yesterday. Addressing the consequences of trauma — in the form of drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, etc. — is such important work and is essential to the healing process.

📣 UN in Sri Lanka நிரந்தர வதிவிட பிரதிநிதி Marc-André Franche மற்றும் சமாதானம் மற்றும் அபிவிருத்திக்கான ஆலோசகர் Patrick Mc Carthy உள்ளிட்ட குழுவினர் இன்று (24) பாராளுமன்றத்தில் எதிர்க்கட்சித் தலைவரை சந்தித்தனர்.

70 years ago, Sri Lanka joined the United Nations. Since then, we’ve walked together through moments of hardship and progress. Now, as the United Nations turns 80: the need for global cooperation is greater than ever. Because together, we are stronger. #OurUN #අපේUN #எங்கள்UN

📽️Colombo Peace Film Festival 🎬19–21 September 2025 Featuring powerful films & documentaries from around the world, the festival will spark reflection & dialogue on peace, reconciliation, and human rights, to commemorate International Peace Day 🕊️ Stay tuned for details

Harmful speech continues to shape conversations online and offline in Sri Lanka, affecting trust, safety, and social cohesion. Learn more about recent trends in the latest bulletin on harmful speech in Sri Lanka ➡️bit.ly/3L96ddr

🧵A new step for UN–IFI cooperation: UN Political and Peacebuilding Affairs's Peacebuilding Support Office has launched the UN–IFI Surge Advisory Team (SAT) to strengthen collaboration between the United Nations and IFIs for prevention and peacebuilding. #PactForTheFuture 🧵1/4

Working with WorldBank, IMF, African Development Bank Group, & other Multilateral Development Banks, the SAT will help align UN & IFI analysis, planning & operations for peace impact. 2/4

The SAT will support inclusive peacebuilding—empowering women & youth, engaging civil society & the private sector—and shares lessons to replicate what works. 3/4

Excited to be part of this new initiative by United Nations Peacebuilding and Peace Support to deepen collaboration between the UN and International Financial Institutions in support of #SustainableDevelopment and #Peace.

#SriLanka improved by 2 places in the latest edition of the #GlobalPeaceIndex & is now ranked 97th out of 163 countries & as the 3rd most peaceful country in #SouthAsia, bucking the global trend of declining peacefulness - economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/upl…

#SriLanka is also bucking the global trend of worsening perceptions of corruption by improving by 14 places in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index with a score of 35/100, still below the global average of 42/100, but headed in the right direction - transparency.org/en/cpi/2025