Social development initiatives underway

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Social protection policies play a vital role in social change while achieving development goals, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne said. The Prime Minister said so participating at the third meeting of the UNESCO Forum of Ministers in charge of Social Development Forum of South Asia. The forum began on February 20 and concludes today.

Addressing the forum, the Prime Minister said that the focus of the forum ‘Social Protection Policies in South Asian Countries’, is a relevant theme, that would afford the participating countries to discuss at length, the social protection policies implemented in their countries.

There will be healthy exchange of ideas, perspectives, views and country experiences in the formulation and implementation of social protection policies by each of the member that will come in good stead in making realistic assessments. Evaluation would help reformulate or reshape their individual country policies to provide greater benefits to their citizens, Prime Minister Jayaratne said.

The Prime Minister added that not only developed countries but also developing countries have taken social protection initiatives in conformity with the level of their economies.

Sri Lanka has already implemented several initiatives for social development and social change, the Prime Minister said.