Sri Lanka improved its global ranking in SDGs despite global pandemic - Foreign Secretary
Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage says that
Sri Lanka has improved its global rank by seven positions and is now ranked
87th out of 165 countries, according to
the Sustainable Development Report 2021, despite the challenges of the ongoing
Covid-19 pandemic.
Delivering the Keynote address of the 5th South Asia Forum
on Sustainable Development Goals in Colombo, he highlighted the priority
attached to the SDGs by the Government, and said that Sri Lanka has set its own
national development targets, driven by the global level of ambition.
Prof. Colombage said that Sri Lanka, taking into account the
national context, priorities and circumstances in its endeavors to achieve the
SDGs, has established dedicated platforms to accelerate progress in areas that
require more focused interventions and coordinated action.
The Foreign Secretary pointed out that the socio-economic
impacts of Covid-19 will be the greatest challenge for the South Asia region in
achieving progress towards SDGs, and accordingly, ensuring adequate and
sustained financing for development would be a challenge.
As Sri Lanka is rebuilding the economy after the pandemic,
the Foreign Secretary re-affirmed Sri Lanka’s unwavering commitment to
remaining engaged and fostering international cooperation with a view to find
transformative pathways to achieve sustainable development.
The forum co-organized by the United Nations Economic and
Social Commission’s (UNESCAP) South and South West Asia Office, the Sustainable
Development Council of Sri Lanka and the Foreign Ministry, under the theme
“Building back better from COVID-19 while advancing the full implementation of
the 2030 Agenda”.
Held as the first international event in Sri Lanka during
the pandemic, it was attended by 36 delegates from 6 countries, officials of
the ESCAP South and South-West Asia Office, UN officials in Sri Lanka,
Government officials, civil society, think-tanks, experts and other stake
holders.
It paved the way to enhance understanding of key challenges
and opportunities in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Regional
Roadmap to support and complement the sub-regional agenda through sharing of
experiences and knowledge, the Foreign Ministry said.
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