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| Wednesday, 22 October 2003 |
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by Rashomi Silva Sri Lanka National Development Goals Campaign, an ambitious programme to meet targets in economic, social and human development by 2015 was inaugurated yesterday in Colombo under the patronage of the Ministry of Policy Development and Implementation. The targets are eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child, maternal mortality, combating HIV/AIDS and malaria, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing and establishing a global partnership for development. Power and Energy Minister Karu Jayasuriya, the Chief Guest addressing the inaugural section said during the early post independence era Sri Lanka was a role model for Asia, with its relatively high living standards, responsible and competent public services, Police, judiciary and administration services. "Sri Lanka witnessed two episodes of insurgencies by educated youths in 1971 and 1989. One of the major reasons for youth unrest was uneven wealth distribution. It is our duty to ensure fair distribution of wealth. Secretary to the Ministry of Policy Development and Implementation Charitha Ratwatte expressed confidence that the targets can be achieved. "We need the correct political leadership to set the policy and give leadership, participation and the support of the Private entrepreneurs and the civil society." "With the unprecedented donor support and the peace process making steady progress we have a window of opportunity before us, and we can not fail," he said. United Nations Resident Coordinator Miguel Bermeo commended the government for integrating the MDGs in Regaining Sri Lanka, the country's main development strategy. Bermeo aired his optimism in Sri Lanka faring considerably well in achieving the targets with the country making significant strides towards peace with the support of the international community. "When viewed for the aggregate perspective Sri Lanka has already achieved or is on the path to achieve the targets set for most of the Millennium Development Goals by the targeted year," he said. "Sri Lanka has a proud record in human development progress in the past decades. Most of its population is literate and education is nearly universal, and health care is widely available for most of the people." However, he pointed out that the progress achieved is uneven with poverty more prevalent in some areas like Moneragala than others areas like Colombo or Gampaha. Sri Lanka has the lowest rate of extreme poverty in South Asia with 6.6 per cent of population estimated to earn less than one US Dollar per day. However, a significant number of people still live in poverty with 43 per cent living below the poverty line of two U.S.Dollars per day. The Human Development Report 2003, an analysis of the world's progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme was also launched yesterday at the inaugural ceremony. |
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