Achieving Millennium Development Goals

Sri Lanka way ahead in South Asia -Indian HC

by Nilma DOLE

Sri Lanka is way ahead of India in achieving MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) said Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ashok Kantha.

He was addressing the 23rd annual sessions of the OPA (Organisation of Professional Associations, Sri Lanka).

Emphasising the OPA’s theme for the session, Vision 2020: The Way Forward’, he said, “Sri Lanka’s track record for growth has been fairly high in spite of the conflict situation that hampered development.” The High Commissioner said that the country’s development has progressed immensely after peace was restored and could achieve the MDGs faster than India.

Kantha said, “India is very keen on working with Sri Lanka to forge economic partnerships and the mutual exchange of knowledge among professionals will benefit both sides.”

Finance Deputy Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said, “If we can develop key projects such as Gal Oya to irrigate areas from the Central Highlands to the Dry Zone areas in the East, we can reap the benefits and improve Sri Lanka’s economy.” He said, “Talking about Sri Lanka’s potential is not enough, it’s high time we harness it.”

The Senior Advisor to the President said that Asia is spearheading growth in the world and Sri Lanka is also one of the second-tier countries contributing to it. “If we maintain our GDP at 8 percent in the next four to five years, this would be sufficient for the nation’s growth,” he said.

Country Director of the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) Douglas Keh said, “A high literacy rate is not sufficient as Sri Lanka needs to have problem-solving authorities in key sectors to tackle issues at a grassroots level to achieve success.”