The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Mr. Marc-André Franche, visited the Indigenous village of Rathugala on 2 July 2026 to meet with community members and gain firsthand insight into the challenges they continue to face.

During the visit, Mr. Franche held discussions with members of the Indigenous community on the social, cultural, economic, and environmental difficulties confronting them, as well as the pressing need to protect their traditional rights, identity, and livelihoods.

Community representatives briefed the UN official on an ongoing initiative jointly carried out by the Rathugala Adivasi Development Society and the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR). The project seeks to enhance the community’s social, cultural, economic, and environmental well-being, while strengthening the protection and realization of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

Mr. Franche praised the project’s community-centred approach and commended the collaborative work of the Rathugala Adivasi Development Society in supporting the Indigenous community and advancing the protection of their rights.

He reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to promoting and safeguarding the rights of Indigenous Peoples in line with international human rights instruments, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Mr. Franche added that the UN would continue to pursue dialogue, advocacy, and collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka and other stakeholders to address the challenges facing the Rathugala Indigenous community and to help build sustainable, long-term solutions.