UNESCO welcomes progress in Sri Lanka

Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova welcomed the rapid and constructive progress made by Sri Lanka in the field of education and economic development.

Meeting the Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G. L. Peiris at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris, the Director General noted the progressive changes being incorporated into the education sector and highlighted the significant strides made in the sphere of economic development and sustenance in a post conflict scenario, stated the Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO in Paris.

The External Affairs Minister briefed the Director General on the development activities taking place across the country and the special emphasis placed at a policy level on ensuring that all forms of development were felt by every citizen and stressed the premium placed on education, which is a much regarded and sustained investment across communities.

He articulated the position of the government in encouraging people-to-people contact as one of the best modes of reconciliation geared towards building and strengthening bonds of friendship.

Minister Peiris added that emphasis was being placed on social mobility in terms of access to education and the provision thereby of a market driven social system in which the existing demands were met and necessary innovative transformations integrated into the societal spectrum.

Noting that the only renewable energy in the world was human capital, the Director General commended the efforts undertaken by Sri Lanka in investing in this sphere of activity, especially given the very high rate of literacy in the country.

Minister Peiris, reiterating the invitation to the Director General to visit Sri Lanka and witness the efforts being made to engage, dialogue and build a society, in which the hopes and aspirations of the youth are realized in a globalized world in which a multiplicity of cultures exists, the Minister pointed out that the United Nations itself needed to recognize this pluralism and diversity of approach by different civilizations embodying distinct value systems.

Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka and Assistant Director General of External Relations of UNESCO, Mr. Eric Falt were also present at the discussions. Courtesy PRIU