Sri Lanka Statement to HLPF Session 15 on 14
th July 2017 (09.00-13.00)
Statement by: Uchita de Zoysa (Chief Negotiator for Sri Lanka to HLPF / Advisor to the Minister of
Sustainable Development and Wildlife Sri Lanka)
Session 15: Leveraging interlinkages for effective implementation of SDGs
Madam Moderator,
1. During the past year, in Sri Lanka we have been planning the implementation of the 169
SDG Targets with an objective of Comprehending its Complexity towards finding Coherence
& Convergence in our policies, strategies, processes and programmes.
2. We have now conducted hundreds of SDG related inter and intra linkage mapping and
systems modelling between policies, institutions, programmes and commitments to other
related international agreements to provide the requisite political realization of the deep
policy and institutional fragmentation and contradictions that leads to lack of vital
coherence in achieving prosperity.
3. When we look back and not limiting to Sri Lanka, the monitoring, evaluation and reporting
for the Millennium Development Goals during those past 15 years had been conducted
using such fragmented policy and institutional frameworks, and trying to adopt incremental
approaches from MDGs will not adequately induce a real transformation.
4. While the past linear development objectives may have been possible to be measured with
data fed quantitative indicators in the past for mere reporting purposes, measuring
prosperity in a transformative process will require far greater comprehension on nonquantitative
indicators and dynamic measurements able to assess intangible influences
having greater impact on an actual transformation.
5. Therefore, the current overdrive for data must become a more holistic process so it does
not end up in building an industry feeding mechanical information devoid from emotions
and realities of the world, and derails the deeper objectives of wellbeing, happiness,
prosperity, mindfulness, etc. necessary for a sincere transformation.
6. It’s a hard and painful process, but in Sri Lanka we are laboring to be as honest towards the
objectives of the agreed transformation, and would appreciate if HLPF facilitates resolute
deliberations leading to necessary global systemic reforms, thus providing hope to countries
like ours to be optimistic of a sustainable era we have earnestly embarked on.
7. Finally, HLPF must be resolute that an old and ordinary financial system cannot facilitate a
transformative agenda, and a new Financial Architecture would mean that along with our
national budgeting mechanisms, the international development assistance system and the
international monetary and trading system must be remodeled to complement the
transformation envisioned in the 2030 agenda.
Thank you!
