Dr. Lalanath De Silva to hold climate conversation today

Dr. Lalanath De Silva is to speak with members of Global Compact Network Sri Lanka on environmental justice implications of climate change and adaptation.

He will share emerging challenges for the private sector based on his 35 years of international experience in the fields of environment, human rights and administrative, constitutional and international law.

The climate conversation will take place today from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the MAS Innovation Centre and will include commentary on Ecosystem Processes by Dr. Nirmalie Pallewatta, University of Colombo and Water & Food Security by Avanthi Jayatilleke, EML Consultants.

Hosted by UNGC Sri Lanka with the support of Board Members MAS and Dilmah, Dr. Lalanath De Silva will draw on lessons learned from his two decades of experience as a lawyer and public litigator to explain food security, insurance, employee relations and other emerging issues linked to the changing climate.

Dr. De Silva is currently the Head of the Independent Redress Mechanism of the Green Climate Fund established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. As a strong advocate of the environment, he co-founded Environment Foundation (Guarantee) Limited in Sri Lanka and is responsible for the writing of a large portion of Sri Lanka’s environmental regulation.

Prior to his current role, Dr. De Silva worked as Legal Consultant to the Ministry of Environment and Forests in Sri Lanka. As a Legal Officer in the Environmental Claims Unit of the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva, assisted the UN to process over US$350 billion in environmental claims against Iraq arising from the 1991 Gulf war and later served for over a decade as the Director of the Access Initiative and as Director for Environmental Democracy at the World Resources Institute in Washington DC.

“As ethical and political challenges develop around the reality of climate change, every business faces new and evolving circumstances. UNGC Sri Lanka is honoured to have the benefit of the practical experience that Dr. Lalanath De Silva brings to the conversation in helping its members align to the new reality. We will continue to support Sri Lankan businesses in comprehending the new social, economic and environmental circumstances with the global perspective that the UNGC Network offers,” UNGC Sri Lanka Chair and Dilmah CEO Dilhan C. Fernando explained.

Academics, State and private sector decision makers are invited to attend the event.