Asian Parliamentarians’ Meeting on Population and Development:

Population rise poses multitude of challenges - Speaker

Rasika SOMARATHNA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the 27th Asian Parliamentarians’ Meeting on Population and Development at Mount Lavinia Hotel yesterday.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa making the inaugural address at the two day forum, noted that the rise in population combined with the paucity of resources to sustain seven billion people, play a decisive role in the outcome of endeavours to uplift the living standards of the people.

In this regard, he said that the forum could play an important role in addressing related issues as it comprises parliamentarians who are the actual representatives of the people.

While stressing that population rise poses to societies a multitude of challenges, he said as the natural resources to sustain the population of a country was limited, population stabilization was a must for sustainable development, poverty reduction and prevention of environmental degradation.

The Speaker also stressed that there was an urgent need for universal access to reproductive health, family planning, information and services, especially for young people.

“Women’s education and empowerment play a key role in social and economic development which in turn would have a positive influence on population stabilization. Accessible information and services relating to reproductive health also reduce maternal deaths and unplanned pregnancies,” he added.

While observing that the civil society could play a major role in addressing population, reproductive health and sustainability issues, the Speaker said that adequate technical and financial support should be provided to strengthen health systems, to face the challenges of the present day demands.

”Parliamentarians in this regard can act as a conduit between the government and the society and also they could enact necessary legislation, disseminate information, secure funding and coordinate services for the benefit of the people they represent,” he told the gathering.

Speaker Rajapaksa also thanked the former Prime Minister of Japan and the chairperson of APDA Yasuo Fukuda MP for his support to Sri Lanka over the years and for the recognition bestowed on the country by selecting Colombo as the venue for the forum.

He identified him as a close and sincere friend of Sri Lanka over a long period. Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena delivering the keynote address noted that what the forum decides as solutions to meet the challenges posed by population escalation could make the world population at seven billion a blessing in disguise.

He said that sustained public welfare programmes and investment in the health and education sectors in Sri Lanka since 1948, led to the achievement of a high quality of life among all people.

He said Sri Lanka’s population had rose from 7 million in 1948 to 21.5 million today with a density of 310 people per square kilometre. The average life expectancy too had risen from 43 in 1948 to 73 at present.

He admitted that population increase brings about considerable pressure on the limited resources of a country. He also noted that this could have a bearing on the frequency of increased natural disasters and emphasized the need for an eco friendly approach to natural resource management. Over 100 Parliamentarians from 23 countries would deliberate ways and means of achieving population stabilization for sustainable development and uplifting living standards, in the region and the world in general under the theme ‘The World Population at 7 Billion’.

The two day forum is hosted by the Health Ministry. It is supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD).

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge, Foreign Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama, Deputy Minister Lalith Dissanayake, local dignitaries and foreign delegates also participated.