Gender equality: Lanka among top 25 countries

Irangika Range

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is ranked among the top 25 countries based on a global index of gender equality, a UN report released yesterday revealed.

United Nations Economic and Social Survey of Asia and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific’s (UN-ESCAP) Economic Affairs Officer Dr.Muhammad Hussain Malik, speaking at the launch of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2007, said gender disparities are much less in Sri Lanka as compared to other countries in South Asia.

Sri Lanka scored high in gender equality in health and survival, educational attainment and political empowerment. In South Asia, female school enrolment ratios in most countries except Sri Lanka tend to be lower than in other subregions of Asia.

Speaking at the ceremony, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka Executive Director Saman Kelegama said despite internal difficulties, the economy of Sri Lanka expanded by 7.4 per cent in 2006, up from 6 percent in 2005.

The growth has been achieved despite adverse conditions of a deteriorating security situation, two major strikes at the port and tea plantations, increased international oil prices, WTO Doha Round collapse in July and desired market access not materialising.

The growth clearly reflected a number of new infrastructure projects that have kicked-off such as Upper-Kotmale, increasing credit expansion to the private sector and the reduction of unemployment 6.3 per cent, he added.