Sri Lanka’s Ambassador and the Permanent Representative to UNESCAP C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne led the Sri Lanka delegation to the Seventh Asian Pacific Population Conference held recently at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Delivering the country statement, Health Services Director General, Health Ministry Dr. Asela Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka’s population is rapidly ageing. By 2030, 1 in 5 people will be above the age of 60 years which will affect Sri Lanka’s political, economic and social structures and have implications for achieving the 2030 Development Agenda. It is imperative to take necessary steps to ensure that social, economic and health policies and programmes evolve to address the challenges ahead.
As a nation that has achieved gender parity in education enrollment and high female completion rates, their participation in the labour force has remained low. To ensure the full potential of Sri Lanka’s population is tapped and to promote gender equality in labour, the Sri Lankan Government has set up institutional mechanisms, including legal reforms to enable the integration of women into the workforce.
Dr. Gunawardena was a panel member of the round table discussion on achievements, challenges, gaps and emerging issues in the implementation of the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development.
The Sri Lanka delegation comprised of Director General of Health Services, Health Ministry Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Director General, National Planning Department R. H. W. A. Kumarasiri, Additional Director General, Department of National Planning, Shiranthi Dammika Ratnayake, Additional Director General, Department of Census and Statistics, Shyamalie Deepika, First Secretary/Deputy Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, A.W.S. Samanmali and First Secretary (Commercial)/Deputy Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Vireshika Bandara.
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