Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya delivered a powerful address at the 28th Asia Pacific Social Work Conference 2025, emphasizing the critical need for social work to remain people-centred, inclusive, and rights-based while integrating environmental responsibility into social development frameworks. The conference, held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo on November 18, brought together social work professionals from across the Asia Pacific region.
Vision for Modern Social Work Practice
During her keynote address, Prime Minister Amarasuriya outlined a comprehensive vision for contemporary social work that transcends traditional boundaries. She stressed that effective social work must evolve to address the interconnected challenges of social inequality, human rights violations, and environmental degradation. This holistic approach recognizes that sustainable social development cannot be achieved without considering environmental factors that directly impact vulnerable communities.
The Prime Minister's remarks highlighted the government's commitment to fostering social work practices that prioritize human dignity and rights-based interventions. She emphasized that social workers play a crucial role in bridging the gap between policy formulation and grassroots implementation, ensuring that development initiatives reach those who need them most.
Environmental Responsibility in Social Development
A key theme of the Prime Minister's address was the integration of environmental responsibility into social work practice. She argued that climate change and environmental degradation disproportionately affect marginalized communities, making it essential for social workers to incorporate environmental considerations into their interventions. This approach aligns with global trends toward sustainable development and recognizes the interconnectedness of social and environmental justice.
Dr. Amarasuriya emphasized that social workers must advocate for policies and practices that protect both people and the planet. This includes supporting community-based environmental initiatives, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and ensuring that development projects consider long-term environmental impacts on vulnerable populations.
Conference Significance and Regional Collaboration
The 28th Asia Pacific Social Work Conference represents a significant milestone for regional collaboration in addressing social challenges. Organized jointly by the Sri Lanka Association of Professional Social Workers (SLAPSW) and the National Institute of Social Development (NISD), the event provides a platform for sharing best practices, innovative approaches, and research findings across the Asia Pacific region.
The conference brings together practitioners, academics, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss emerging trends in social work education, practice, and policy. This collaborative approach is essential for addressing transnational challenges such as migration, human trafficking, disaster response, and poverty alleviation that require coordinated regional responses.
Inclusive and Rights-Based Approaches
Prime Minister Amarasuriya's emphasis on inclusive and rights-based social work reflects a growing recognition of the need to center human rights in all development interventions. This approach ensures that social work practice is guided by principles of non-discrimination, participation, accountability, and empowerment. It also recognizes the importance of addressing structural inequalities that perpetuate social problems.
The inclusive framework advocated by the Prime Minister encompasses diverse populations, including ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, LGBTI+ individuals, and other marginalized groups. This comprehensive approach ensures that social work interventions are culturally sensitive and responsive to the unique needs of different communities.
Strengthening Professional Capacity
The conference also serves as an important forum for strengthening professional capacity within the social work sector. By bringing together experts from across the region, the event facilitates knowledge exchange and professional development opportunities that enhance the quality of social work practice. This capacity building is essential for ensuring that social workers are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to address complex contemporary challenges.
The Prime Minister's address underscored the government's commitment to supporting professional development in the social work sector through improved education, training, and career development opportunities. This investment in human capital is crucial for building a strong social work workforce capable of implementing effective interventions.
Future Directions and Implementation
Looking ahead, the principles outlined by Prime Minister Amarasuriya will likely influence policy development and program implementation across Sri Lanka and the broader Asia Pacific region. The integration of environmental responsibility into social work practice represents a paradigm shift that requires new approaches to education, training, and service delivery.
The success of this vision will depend on sustained commitment from governments, professional associations, educational institutions, and civil society organizations. It will also require adequate funding, policy support, and institutional frameworks that enable social workers to implement people-centred, inclusive, and environmentally responsible interventions.
The 28th Asia Pacific Social Work Conference marks an important step toward realizing this vision, providing a foundation for continued collaboration and innovation in addressing the region's most pressing social challenges while protecting environmental sustainability for future generations.