Sri Lanka is in the forefront of the MDG agenda despite a low GDP per capita - repor

Despites a low per capita GDP, Sri Lanka is in the forefront of achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially in the health and education sectors, the second MDG progress report says.

The second report launched yesterday at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo yesterday (20) with the participation of Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama and UN Country Resident Representative Neil Buhne, says that the country has already achieved several of the MDGs targeted to be fulfilled by 2015.
It says that Sri Lanka has made great strides in the areas of poverty alleviation, child and maternal mortality rates and gender equality and the country is on track to achieve the targets for most of the indicators by 2015.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is scheduled to address the special UN Summit on Millennium Development Goals in New York on Wednesday will address the global audience on the findings of this report and on Sri Lanka's position on the MDGs.

The report not only describes the progress the country made during the nine years since the signing of the Millennium Declaration but also points out the challenges that remain and of what more needs to be done to address these challenges.

Commenting on the launch of the report a press release of the United Nations Country Team said Sri Lanka's commitment to achieve the MDGs is at its highest level.

The "Mahinda Chinthana: 10 year development frame work" has clearly specified the Government's commitment towards the achievement of MDGs for all people in the country, it said.

According to the report, Sri Lanka has the lowest Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in South East Asia and the country has achieved considerable success in reducing MMR. At its current level of 11.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, Infant Mortality Rate is lower than that achieved by countries considerably wealthier than Sri Lanka.

The report says poverty in Sri Lanka declined from 26.1 percent in 1990-91 to 15.2 percent in 2006-07. The country is expects to reach a target of 13 percent at the national level by 2015.

Sri Lanka has almost achieved the universal primary education target with net enrollment rate reaching 97.5 percent in 2006/07 for both males and females, the report said.

At this rate Sri Lanka will achieve the target of 100 percent well before 2015, if present trends are continued, it said.