In a significant milestone reflecting Sri Lanka’s growing engagement in global environmental cooperation, Sri Lanka joined the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI), headquartered in Riyadh, as a Regional Member in the year 2026 and participated for the first time in the 20th Executive Committee (ExCom) Meeting, held virtually on 22 July 2026. Sri Lanka was represented by the Deputy Minister of Environment, Anton Jayakody, and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Osama Fakiha, Chairman of the MGI Executive Committee and Deputy Minister for Environment at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while MGI Secretary-General Eng. Ibrahim Alturki presented the Secretariat’s progress report.
Delivering Sri Lanka’s statement at the ExCom meeting, Deputy Minister Jayakody expressed his appreciation to the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI), Eng. Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley, for extending the invitation to Sri Lanka to join the MGI. He reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to actively contributing to the shared vision and objectives of the Initiative. He further stated that Sri Lanka’s membership in the MGI presents a valuable opportunity to collaborate in regional and inter-regional efforts aimed at ecosystem restoration, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience. Sri Lanka stands ready to foster a strong partnership with the MGI by sharing its expertise in blue carbon initiatives, contributing its experience in reforestation, and collaborating on land restoration and carbon market development, with a view to collectively building a more resilient and sustainable future for our regions.
Commenting on Sri Lanka’s membership in the MGI framework, Ambassador Ameer Ajwad stated that he was delighted to facilitate Sri Lanka’s engagement with this important regional initiative, which provides a valuable platform to strengthen partnerships with the MGI regional member countries across the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa, while showcasing the country’s rich experience in biodiversity conservation, sustainable ecosystem management, climate adaptation, and nature-based solutions.
Ambassador further noted that MGI membership could create opportunities to attract green investment, facilitate access to climate finance, and promote investment in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, forestry, water resource management, and eco-tourism, while creating green jobs and strengthening climate-resilient infrastructure. Sri Lanka’s membership would also provide opportunities to foster partnerships with member governments, development institutions, and the private sector, thereby contributing to long-term sustainable economic growth and the country’s transition towards a green economy.
The Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) is a pioneering regional platform launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, supported by a US$2.5 billion commitment to establish and host the MGI Secretariat and support its programmes and governance. The Initiative brings together 34 regional member countries across the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa, with the United Kingdom participating as a non-regional observer, to accelerate collective efforts to combat climate change, enhance environmental sustainability, restore ecosystems, and build a greener and more resilient future.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Riyadh
27 July 2026
