Lanka on track to MDGs fast - Indian High Commissioner

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Sri Lanka is on the fast track to development and gain economic growth especially to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), said Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Ashok K Kantha.

He was addressing the 23rd Annual Session of the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) recently in Colombo. He said Sri Lanka is better poised to achieve development goals than India.

Time has arisen for Sri Lanka to achieve targets since the country is free from terrorism which brought much disaster while hampering development over three decades. Sri Lanka is situated in an ideal location, near to international maritime routes the High Commissioner said.

He said the country is rapidly marching forward towards development after peace was restored and could achieve MDGs much faster than India. India is assisting Sri Lanka as a friend and immediate neighbour.

Addressing the OPA’s theme for the session “Vision 2020 – The way forward” he pointed out that nothing can be achieved without a vision. Not only for an organisation but for every country has to have a vision. A vision indicates the direction to proceed. Sri Lanka has proved its capabilities in achieving economic growth, Kantha said.

Senior Advisor to the President and Deputy Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama said it is time to utilise our potentials. Sri Lanka is capable enough to obtain the best through its own way.

He further said that Sri Lanka maintains the GDP at eight percent in the next four to five years, this would be fairly sufficient for the nation’s growth. The country has many outstanding individuals to play that significant role.

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Country Director Douglas Keh delivering the keynote address said that everything is clear that the country is on the development track. Infrastructure development programs and other mega scale development programs are in progress in every part of the country.