For more than fifty years the UN’s Specialised Agencies have supported the development of Sri Lanka with technical expertise, financial assistance, and during times of natural and man-made disaster. Sri Lanka now leads South Asia in most developmental indicators, and the UN’s 16 resident agencies in Sri Lanka continue to work with the government on elemental issues such as food security, agriculture, education, health, and the environment - things that effect life every day for the citizens of this country.

More recently, the UN system has worked with the government in peace-building efforts and to ameliorate the adverse effects of the ethnic conflict. In this ongoing effort, UN senior officials, special representatives and mechanisms have supported an open dialogue with the government on democratic values, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and human rights.