The development policy framework of Sri Lanka has been premised on a set of higher level multiple goals focusing on economic growth, redistributive justice, reduction of absolute poverty, employment generation, balanced regional development and increased environmental sustainability, said Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Dr. Palitha Kohona speaking at the Third Committee General Debate on Social Development.

“Sri Lanka has displayed resilience in maintaining momentum on progress with the IADGs, the MDGs including economic growth despite the global economic crisis, the food crisis, the energy crisis and severe constraints imposed by a long drawn struggle with terrorism,” he said.

In post conflict Sri Lanka, the hopes of the country’s youth for a secure, better and more progressive society have been renewed, Dr. Kohona further said.

The policy framework of the Government as enunciated in the “Mahinda Chinthanaya” and the Ten Year Development Plan seeks to engage the country’s youth as active partners in the development process, and as stakeholders in their communities, he adds.

Speaking with regard to rehabilitating, reintegrating and empowering former child combatants he said, ‘Through Policy commitment and political will, Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress in rehabilitating, reintegrating and empowering 667 former child combatants. In addition to regular educational opportunities, more than 1,300 young people including former young-adult combatants are being given vocational training in the North and the East. Many have undertaken studies to qualify for university courses’.

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