Our Role
Our Vision
“Perform as a national coordinating centre for achieving peace and sustainable development through education, scientific, cultural, communication and environmental subjects contributing to entire philosophy of UNESCO.”
Our Mission
“Develop mutual Cooperation among the nationalities in Sri Lanka through education, science, culture, communication and environmental subjects for further development of global reputation/dignity for justice, law, administration, human rights and basic independence certified for human beings of the world without any difference of nationality, sex, languages or religion by the United Nations’ Covenant.”
Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO (SLNCU)
The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, established in 1949 and constituted under the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO Act No. 38 of 2024, is the official governmental body responsible for coordinating and implementing UNESCO’s mandate in Sri Lanka.
The Commission serves as the principal liaison between Sri Lanka and UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, as well as the UNESCO Regional Office in New Delhi, supporting cooperation and programme implementation across UNESCO’s fields of competence: education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and information and communication.
Housed within the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the SLNCU brings together key national stakeholders through a statutory Commission chaired by the Minister in charge of the subject of Education. The Secretary to the Ministry of the subject of Education serves as Vice Chairperson, while the Secretary-General functions as the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission.
Through its coordinating and advisory role, the SLNCU works to promote UNESCO’s values and contribute to Sri Lanka’s national development priorities in line with international commitments.