President Thabo Mbeki, Chairman of the Board
Distinguished Members of the Board
Representatives of the Council
Excellencies
It is a great honour to participate at the 26th Council of Representatives of the South Centre this evening. I join the other Member States to congratulate the Chairman, Members of the Board, Executive Director and the Secretariat of the South Centre for their tireless commitment to continue the work of the Centre in this challenging multilateral environment.
At a time when the multilateral system is confronted with increasing fragmentation, evolving geopolitical dynamics, and widening development gaps, the role of institutions such as the South Centre has become ever more critical in amplifying the collective voice of the Global South and safeguarding its development interests.
The South Centre has been an important partner to developing countries and in particular, its research and policy analysis has provided guidance to develop common views and to work together on major international development related policy issues. In this regard, the Centre continues to play an important role in strengthening South-South cooperation and fostering informed engagement of developing countries in global negotiations.
Over the years, Sri Lanka has been receiving benefits from the South Centre through technical inputs and policy guidelines to address issues of economic and development challenges across international trade, debt, taxation, climate change, finance for development, intellectual property and health, among many others. The South Centre has been particularly useful to its members working without technical experts of their own, including Sri Lanka. These contributions have been instrumental in enabling countries like Sri Lanka to navigate complex global policy landscapes, strengthen national policy frameworks, and participate more effectively in international rule-making processes.
I take this opportunity to appreciate the Centre for its recent publication on “Trade Policy Uncertainty and Impacts on Developing Countries’ Exporters: The Case of Sri Lanka”. The insights provided in this study are timely and highly relevant, particularly as developing countries continue to grapple with external shocks and shifting trade dynamics.
I understand that the Centre is currently facing financial constraints due to lack of funding. As a precaution, I wish to propose the South Centre to explore avenues to obtain voluntary contributions from all Members and philanthropists. In addition, innovative financing mechanisms and strengthened partnerships could also be considered to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Centre’s valuable work. I wish to mention that Sri Lanka, while facing its own financial challenges, has made its contribution to the Centre regularly including in 2025, in recognition of the important work carried out by the South Centre.
As a long-standing Member of the South Centre, Sri Lanka wishes to see the continuation of the commendable activities of the Centre, in the coming years, as well. Sri Lanka remains committed to supporting the Centre and working collectively with fellow Member States to further strengthen its mandate and impact.
In closing, allow me to reaffirm Sri Lanka’s strong belief in multilateralism, solidarity among developing nations, and the continued relevance of the South Centre as a platform for advancing equitable and inclusive global development.
I thank you.