Sri Lanka was elected to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Council held at the FAO headquarters in Rome from November 18-23.

Sri Lanka’s nomination was submitted by India and Pakistan.

Sri Lanka returns to the FAO Council six years after it was elected to the 2001-2003 term. China, Japan, Philippines, South Korea and Thailand, all belonging to the Asia Group of the FAO, were also elected for the term November 2009-June 2012.

The FAO Council is the main executive organ of the Organization. It has 49 members out of the 192 member nations, and has powers delegated to it by the FAO Conference. In particular, it exercises functions dealing with the world food and agricultural situation and related matters, current and prospective activities of the Organization, including the Programme of Work and Budget, administrative matters, financial management of the Organization, and constitutional questions.