Sri Lanka is on right track to achieve the MDGs by year 2015 - FM [September 30 2008]

Sri Lanka is on right track to achieve the MDGs by year 2015. Minster of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogaollagama said in New York. Participating in the interactive Round Table discussion segment of the high level meeting on the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) Minister Bogollagama said that sustainable development should be viewed in the context of the people, as the Government represents people. "Terefore, imposition of economic sanctions ought to be avoided as it is only the citizens of that country who would suffer the adverse consequences," he said. Referring to the economic pursuit of the Sri Lanka Government, Minister Rohitha Bogaollagama pointed out that free education had resulted in a 94% literacy rate and similarly, free health services have resulted in an average life expectancy of 74 years. He also stated that there are major diseases in Sri Lanka and that malaria as an epidemic has been eradicated.