The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka participated at the ‘WTO Open Day 2026’, held at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Headquarters in Geneva to mark the 100th anniversary of the Centre William Rappard.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the WTO who visited the Sri Lanka stall was received by Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the WTO, Ambassador Samantha Wijesekara.
The Sri Lanka stall offered visitors an authentic Sri Lankan culinary experience, including the much-loved Sri Lankan Kottu, showcasing the country’s rich food culture, hospitality, and people-to-people connection with the international community in Geneva.
The event opened the WTO’s historic headquarters to the public, offering visitors guided tours, exhibitions, cultural activities, children’s programmes, live music, and an international buffet featuring cuisines from WTO members. The Centre William Rappard, the WTO’s home, is recognized as the first building in Geneva specifically constructed to house an international organization.
Ambassador Samantha Wijesekara, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the WTO, guided Sri Lanka’s unique contribution to the Open Day which highlighted not only the diversity of its culinary traditions but also its continued engagement with the WTO community and its commitment to cultural diplomacy. The event provided a valuable opportunity to share Sri Lanka’s identity, warmth, and traditions with visitors from Geneva and beyond.
The event was supported by the Sri Lankan community in Geneva, specailly, the Sri Lanka Association in Geneva (SLAG).
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva
06 July 2026
The Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake addressed the Second Preparatory Meeting of the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), on 01 July 2026 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. In his statement Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake, outlined constructive observations for further improvement of the Zero Draft of the Vientiane Capital Action Plan (VCAP) 2027–2031.
The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) concluded its second visit to Sri Lanka on 24 June 2026. The visit took place from 15 to 24 June 2026.
Sri Lanka’s progress in implementing the victim assistance obligations under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention was presented by Eng. L. Kumudu Lal Bogahawatta, Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Constructions and Water Supply and the Director of National Mine Action Centre at the 2026 Inter-sessional Meeting of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention on 16 June 2026.
Day 2: Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Session 5 (10:00 – 11:30) The Life Cycle of AI in the Military Domain (Part 2)
As emphasized in our intervention yesterday, Sri Lanka welcomes the focus of Resolution 80/58 on the entire life cycle of Artificial Intelligence capabilities within the military domain. This must encompass every stage: from pre-design, design, development, evaluation, and testing, to deployment, use, sale, procurement, operation, and decommissioning.
- Permanent Representative Sumith Dassanayake reassures Sri Lanka’s commitment to advancing human rights through nationally owned, democratic and constitutionally grounded processes at the 62nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva
- Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake reaffirms Sri Lanka’s commitment to legally binding approach to govern AI in the Military Domain
- Statement by His Excellency Sumith Dassanayake at the Informal exchanges on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Military Domain and its Implications for International Peace and Security on 15 June 2026 in Geneva.