Addressing the 23rd Annual Session of the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) held 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 for over three decades. Sri Lanka is situated in an ideal location, near international maritime routes, the High Commissioner said.

He said the country is rapidly marching 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 organizations but every country needs to have a vision. A vision indicates the direction to proceed. Sri Lanka has proved its capabilities in achieving economic growth, he said.

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 programmes and other mega scale development programmes are in progress in every part of the country.