COLOMBO :Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, participated in a high-level dialogue on the role of the non-profit sector in managing natural resources and agriculture to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The session was organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Saudi Arabia during the 4th International Exhibition for the Non-Profit Sector (IENA 2026), held at the International Convention and Exhibition Center in Riyadh on 12 May 2026.
The event was graced by Her Highness Princess Mashael bint Saud Al-Shaalan and Her Highness Princess Noura bint Turki Al Saud, along with other distinguished dignitaries and experts in the field.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Ameer Ajwad emphasized the importance of social responsibility in green sector management as a means of advancing the SDGs. In this context, he highlighted a flagship programme by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh titled the “Sri Lanka Ambassador’s Tree Planting Initiative,” launched with the participation of the Sri Lankan community in the Kingdom in support of the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), introduced by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Saudi Green Initiative. The SGI aims to plant 10 billion trees across the Kingdom to expand green spaces and increase vegetation cover as part of Saudi Vision 2030.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh launched this unique programme in December 2024 and, together with the Sri Lankan community in Riyadh, planted trees across five parks in the Riyadh region, namely Salam Park, Ar Rabi Park, Malqa Park, Al Darseena Park, and Irqah Park, in collaboration with the Riyadh Municipality. A similar programme was also organized at Al-Ahsa National Park with the participation of the Sri Lankan community in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Saudi National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification (NCVC).
