Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya delivered the keynote address at the inaugural Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan, highlighting Sri Lanka's traditional agricultural practices and calling for greater consciousness in addressing global food system challenges.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya addressed the inaugural Global Conscious Food Systems Summit 2026 held at Dungkar Dzong in Bhutan on September 1st, where she emphasized Sri Lanka's ancestral approaches to sustainable food production. The summit, jointly organized by the Royal Government of Bhutan, the Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), gathered policymakers and development practitioners under the overarching theme "Activating the Heart of Food Systems Transformation."
In her keynote remarks, the Prime Minister highlighted how Sri Lanka's traditional food systems reflected generations of knowledge built on working in harmony with nature rather than against it. She stressed that these ancestral practices embodied principles of sustainability and balance across food production, storage, preservation, and consumption, representing a model of development that prioritized environmental stewardship alongside human needs.
Following her address, PM Amarasuriya participated in a panel discussion alongside Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay on conscious leadership and its role in driving social, economic, and environmental transformation. The discussion explored how collective consciousness and values-based leadership could address the interconnected global challenges currently facing food systems and communities worldwide.
The Prime Minister subsequently held a press conference with local and international media representatives, fielding questions on food security, agricultural practices, women's employment, and sustainable development. Her participation provided an international platform for Sri Lanka to share its experiences in sustainable food systems and inclusive development approaches.