Sanaka Samarasinha
Development Professional, Lawyer, Journalist, and Senior International Civil Servant
United States, North America, United States
About Sanaka Samarasinha
Sanaka Samarasinha is a development professional, lawyer, journalist, and senior international civil servant with over 25 years of experience across 40 countries. He has held numerous leadership roles within the United Nations, showcasing expertise in strategic communication, public relations, mediation, sustainable development goals (SDGs), governance, human rights, crisis management, climate change, and media relations.
Samarasinha served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Republic of Fiji from 2018 to 2023, covering nine other Pacific Island Countries. He led 31 UN agencies, managed an annual budget of $250 million, and coordinated responses to natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. He was instrumental in establishing the Pacific Sustainable Development Fund and co-chaired the Pacific Regional Multi-Stakeholder Programme Steering Committee under the Spotlight Initiative, aimed at ending violence against women and girls.
From 2013 to 2018, Samarasinha was the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus. He facilitated dialogues on democratic governance and human rights, mobilized over $150 million for development, and created the National Human Rights Action Plan. He also established the UN Youth Advisory Panel in Belarus.
His earlier roles include positions in Iran, Maldives, Kosovo, Samoa, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Singapore. Before joining the UN, he worked in the legal profession and journalism in countries including the USA, South Africa, and India.
Samarasinha holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Kansas. He is fluent in English and Sinhala, with basic proficiency in French and Russian. His work emphasizes community empowerment, multi-sectoral partnerships, data-driven decision-making, and sustainability policies. Sanaka Samarasinha is married with three daughters and hails from Sri Lanka.
Areas of Focus
Career Background
Education
Media
Press
Statement by Mr Sanaka Samarasinha - UN Resident Coordinator for the Pacific on World Day Against Child Labour 2020
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What does Sanaka Samarasinha do?
Sanaka Samarasinha is a development professional, lawyer, journalist, and senior international civil servant at the United Nations, with over 25 years of experience across 40 countries.
What is Sanaka Samarasinha known for?
He is known for his UN leadership roles, including serving as UN Resident Coordinator for Fiji (2018-2023) and Belarus (2013-2018), where he led multi-agency responses, mobilized development funding, and worked on sustainable development, human rights, and crisis management.
Where is Sanaka Samarasinha based?
He is based in the United States.
Where did Sanaka Samarasinha study?
He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Kansas, and also has education connections to the University of Colombo, Emporia State University, and George Washington University.
Who does Sanaka Samarasinha work for?
He works for the United Nations.
Last updated February 20, 2026