National Sustainability Discourse to achieve SDGs launched today

The National Sustainability Discourse, a non-political, unbiased, scientific approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, will be launched today.

The event will be conducted under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, said Secretary to the President Udaya R. Seneviratne.

Addressing a media briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium, Seneviratne said the outcome of this discourse would be the creation of the long-term national development plan for Sri Lanka with the participation of the whole of society.

Since this is a national exercise, all leaders of countries, including the former president, leader of the Opposition and other leaders, are invited, the Secretary said.

Describing the need for an unbiased development policy, Coordinating Secretary to the President Shiral Lakthilaka said that although Sri Lanka had gained Middle Income status with $ 4,000 per capita income, disparities still remained with 5.3% of the population living under the poverty line.

Additional Secretary to the President Jayantha Wijeratne, Prof. Mohan Munasinghe, Prof. Hemanthi Ranasinghe and the Director General of the Government Information Department Attorney at Law Sudarshana Gunawardena also participated in the event.