The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) commenced in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2 to 13, 2024, under the theme Our Land. Our Future.

The UNCCD serves as the global voice for land, being one of the three major UN treaties known as the Rio Conventions, alongside those addressing climate change and biodiversity.

H.E. Omar Lebbe Ameer Ajwad, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Head of the Sri Lankan Delegation to COP16, delivered Sri Lanka's formal country statement.

The Sri Lankan delegation participating in the COP16 is focused on the negotiations on: strengthening international cooperation on land degradation and restoration, drought preparedness and resilience; and mobilizing finance and scale up investment in sustainable land management.

The Ministry of Environment serves as Sri Lanka's National Focal Point for the UNCCD. The Delegation of Sri Lanka at the opening ceremony included H.E. Omar Lebbe Ameer Ajwad, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia; Mrs. Nilmini Wickramaarachchi, Director (Natural Resources) and Mrs. Himali De Costa, Assistant Director (Natural Resource Management), Ministry of Environment; and Mrs. Dulanji Herath, Assistant Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.