Sri Lanka
National Statement of Sri Lanka at the General Debate of the
High-level Segment ofECOSOC including the Ministerial Meeting of the
High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
by Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera
Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife
18 th July 2017
Mr. President,
Sri Lanka is happy to once again extend its support to the High Level Political Forum on
Sustainable Development.
On the 2nd of January this year, His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala
Sirisena, declared that Sri Lanka has embarked on a 'Sustainable Era' and declared 2017
as the 'Year for Poverty Eradication'. Sri Lanka believes that eradicating poverty in all its
forms and equally across the nation is a prerequisite for a transformation . In our pursuit
of becoming a high-income country, Sri Lanka's economic prosperity is being planned in
accordance with our commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development.
Under the guidance of the Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, a knowledge
based Social Market Economy built on social justice principles is being fostered with a
focus on the availability of global opportunities for education, strengthening of the health
system, and the ability to ensure mobility successfully. To unlock the value of our ocean's
resources sustainably, a Blue-Green Strategy has been put in place , and to ensure a healthy
nation, a programme for a country free of poisonous substances is being implemented .
A National Sustainable Development Act in conformity with the Sustainable
Development Goals has been tabled in Parliament of Sri Lanka to establish a Sustainable
Development Council that will provide leadership to formulate a National Policy and
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Strategy on Sustainable Development and monitor the implementation of the same. A
Parliamentary Select Committee has also been established to monitor the progress of the
implementation of SDGs.
In our commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in 2015 Sri Lanka
established a cabinet Ministry for Sustainable Development to steer the planning of the
implementation of SDGs. Under the overarching theme of "Planning for an Inclusive
Transformation" a 'National SDG Action Plan' was formulated by my Ministry of
Sustainable Development and Wildlife last year. By the end of this year, the "National
SDG Roadmap" will be formulated along with a National Monitoring, Review, Reporting
and Follow-up Mechanism for SDGs. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, we
have also initiated "Regional Sustainability Plans" and already commenced a programme
to establish "Sustainable Villages".
We have now conducted an inter and intra linkage mapping between and amongst the 169
targets and the 400 plus statutory institutions under the ministries and have identified their
roles and responsibilities of implementing the SDGs. By the end of the year, we are very
hopeful of bringing out a convergent long-term sustainability vision, a national policy and
strategy, a roadmap on implementing the SDGs, a monitoring-evaluation-reporting
mechanism defined by a national indicator and statistical framework, and decentralized
implementation of sustainability plans through a mind change of our nation. Our strategy
is to implement the SDGs in three phases; 2017 to 2020, 2020 to 2025, and 2025 to 2030.
With full readiness for transformation to sustainable development, we believe Sri Lanka
would be in an ideal position to present its Voluntary National Review at the High Level
Political Forum next year.
Finally, I am also happy to announce that in recognition of our work in preservation of
wildlife and marine ecosystems, Sri Lanka has been awarded to host the next CITIES
Conference in Sri Lanka, and we look forward to welcoming all countries and stakeholders
in the year 2019 to our beautiful country.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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High-level Segment ofECOSOC including the Ministerial Meeting of the
High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
by Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera
Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife
18 th July 2017
Mr. President,
Sri Lanka is happy to once again extend its support to the High Level Political Forum on
Sustainable Development.
On the 2nd of January this year, His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala
Sirisena, declared that Sri Lanka has embarked on a 'Sustainable Era' and declared 2017
as the 'Year for Poverty Eradication'. Sri Lanka believes that eradicating poverty in all its
forms and equally across the nation is a prerequisite for a transformation . In our pursuit
of becoming a high-income country, Sri Lanka's economic prosperity is being planned in
accordance with our commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development.
Under the guidance of the Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, a knowledge
based Social Market Economy built on social justice principles is being fostered with a
focus on the availability of global opportunities for education, strengthening of the health
system, and the ability to ensure mobility successfully. To unlock the value of our ocean's
resources sustainably, a Blue-Green Strategy has been put in place , and to ensure a healthy
nation, a programme for a country free of poisonous substances is being implemented .
A National Sustainable Development Act in conformity with the Sustainable
Development Goals has been tabled in Parliament of Sri Lanka to establish a Sustainable
Development Council that will provide leadership to formulate a National Policy and
1
Strategy on Sustainable Development and monitor the implementation of the same. A
Parliamentary Select Committee has also been established to monitor the progress of the
implementation of SDGs.
In our commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in 2015 Sri Lanka
established a cabinet Ministry for Sustainable Development to steer the planning of the
implementation of SDGs. Under the overarching theme of "Planning for an Inclusive
Transformation" a 'National SDG Action Plan' was formulated by my Ministry of
Sustainable Development and Wildlife last year. By the end of this year, the "National
SDG Roadmap" will be formulated along with a National Monitoring, Review, Reporting
and Follow-up Mechanism for SDGs. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, we
have also initiated "Regional Sustainability Plans" and already commenced a programme
to establish "Sustainable Villages".
We have now conducted an inter and intra linkage mapping between and amongst the 169
targets and the 400 plus statutory institutions under the ministries and have identified their
roles and responsibilities of implementing the SDGs. By the end of the year, we are very
hopeful of bringing out a convergent long-term sustainability vision, a national policy and
strategy, a roadmap on implementing the SDGs, a monitoring-evaluation-reporting
mechanism defined by a national indicator and statistical framework, and decentralized
implementation of sustainability plans through a mind change of our nation. Our strategy
is to implement the SDGs in three phases; 2017 to 2020, 2020 to 2025, and 2025 to 2030.
With full readiness for transformation to sustainable development, we believe Sri Lanka
would be in an ideal position to present its Voluntary National Review at the High Level
Political Forum next year.
Finally, I am also happy to announce that in recognition of our work in preservation of
wildlife and marine ecosystems, Sri Lanka has been awarded to host the next CITIES
Conference in Sri Lanka, and we look forward to welcoming all countries and stakeholders
in the year 2019 to our beautiful country.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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