Sri Lanka has been elected by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a three-year term commencing on 01 January 2025.

At the elections held in New York, on Friday (07 June), Sri Lanka obtained 182 votes, of the 189 member states present and voting, securing the 2nd highest vote count from the region, and the 7th highest number overall, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Sri Lanka was previously elected to the ECOSOC from 1985 – 1989 and from 2006 – 2008.

As a member of the ECOSOC, Sri Lanka will contribute to the Council’s efforts and programmes, which include eradication of poverty, food security, financing for development, reform of the international financial architecture to better support vulnerable countries, climate justice, gender equality and women’s empowerment, rights of persons with disabilities, science and technology, and bridging the digital divide.

The 18 countries that were elected on 07 June 2024 to the 54 member states of the ECOSOC, include Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia from the Asia Pacific region.

The election to the ECOSOC is Sri Lanka’s 4th consecutive success at a multilateral election. This marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s diplomatic engagement led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its overseas Diplomatic Missions, the statement said.

Established in 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations, the ECOSOC is one of the six principal organs of the UN and serves as the central platform within the UN system to coordinate the economic and social fields, advance international cooperation and development as well as matters relating to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sri Lanka Missions overseas spearheaded the election campaign, the ministry added.