All preparations are made as Sri Lanka is poised to host the Third Nyéléni Global Forum, a pivotal event in the global food sovereignty movement. The Forum is scheduled to take place from 5 to 14 September 2025 at the National Institute of Cooperative Development (NICD), Polgolla, Kandy. The two previous editions of the Forum were held in Sélingué, Mali and this is the first time it is being held outside its country of origin. This edition is expected to bring together over 600 delegates from more than 120 countries, encompassing a wide array of stakeholders including small-scale food producers and Indigenous communities; fisherfolk and artisanal fishers; food chain and migrant workers; urban dwellers and hawkers; pastoralists and forest communities; women’s movements and feminist groups; youth, students, academics, and trade unions; and climate justice and social economy organisations. The Forum is organised by International Planning Committee (IPC) for food sovereignty, Nyéléni Sri Lanka Steering Committee, Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR), National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), Lanka Organic Agriculture Movement, Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), Community Education Centre, Peoples’ Health Movement and Women’s Centre.

Hosting the Forum couldn’t have come at a better time for Sri Lanka as the country is also going through significant political, economic, and industrial change. Moreover, it is a great opportunity to let the layperson know about the importance of food sovereignty – as opposed to food security which is often talked about and paid much attention to – since it isn’t a topic or an ideology many seem to be familiar with. To know more about the upcoming Forum and the importance of the concept, ‘food sovereignty’ Ceylon Today contacted some of it’s organisers and stakeholders.