Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Sunday Dec 22, 2024
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Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena
Sri Lanka’s struggle in terms of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amidst the worst economic crisis came under spotlight yesterday at a high-level review involving the Government and the United Nations officials.
The progress and challenges of Sri Lanka thus far were discussed by the National Steering Committee to achieve UNSDGs chaired by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, host of Ministry Secretaries as well as UN Acting Resident Coordinator representative and IOM Mission Chief Sarath Dash attended the review.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Media Office said much attention was paid to the challenges of achieving 17 SDGs at the meeting.
In addition to the problems in the health and agricultural sectors that have surfaced amidst the current economic crisis, attention was drawn to many important areas including reviewing the problem of poverty, cruelty against children, improving food production under the food security program, overcoming climate challenges and water management in the meeting.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena also urged Ministries to keep track of their contributions to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, emphasising that activities related to achieve these targets should be prioritised in the upcoming Budget 2023 proposals.
UN Acting Resident Coordinator and IOM Mission Chief of Mission Sarat Dash stated that the UN commends Sri Lanka’s efforts toward achieving the SDGs and would continue to give the necessary support to Sri Lanka in this regard.
He also stated that the UN has allocated $ 385 million to meet Sri Lanka’s SDGs between 2023 and 2027.
The Prime Minister’s attention was also directed to child malnutrition, which has surfaced as a result of the adverse impact of the current economic crisis.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera claimed that the Port Plant Quarantine Unit inspections caused the delay to release maize stocks imported from India and as a result, Triposha production was hindered.
Prime Minister in response instructed officials to investigate and intervene immediately to resolve issues pertaining to the distribution of maize imported from India, as the matter has impacted negatively to the child nutrition.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella explained that the release of the seeds has been delayed as the officials were following precautionary measures due to allegations of aflatoxin in the imported maize stocks.
Prime Minister said the President or he could have been informed of any restrictions on the release of seeds requested by farmers, before postponing the distribution of the seeds. He also said that relevant authorities could have been informed of the international standard that the seeds were tested against as well.
Reflecting on social security inclusion in the SDGs, Premier Gunawardena emphasised that legal cases involving minor issues should be solved without dragging for a long period, citing that the process cause unnecessary trouble and expense for the public.
Prime Minister called on the Ministry Secretaries to inform all Government officials about the programs to achieve the SDGs, without limiting them only to circulars.
Public Security Minister Tiran Alas, Fisheries State Minister Piyal Nishantha and Minister Secretaries also participated at the discussion.
