Thilanga Sumathipala, Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Select Committee of Parliament of Sri Lanka on SDG attended a Forum with delegates Edward Gunasekara (MP) and Kushani Rohanadeera (Assistant Secretary General) on World Parliamentary Forum on ‘Sustainable Development, Achieving the 2030 Agenda through inclusive Development’ in Indonesia recently.
The Bali meeting was the initial meeting that focused the discussion of three interlinked issues with experts, parliamentarians and civil society into dialogues on SDG with the focus on the issues. This invitation was extended to Sri Lanka by The House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia.
Addressing the meeting Sumathipala highlighted the government’s role on achieving SDGs. He said promoting inclusive and equitable development is a strong reminder on the significance of the role of Parliament to promote public policy to eradicate poverty. “Therefore, eradicating poverty is the key towards inclusive and equitable development.
“Ending violence and sustainable peace underpins the Parliament’s central role in preventing the outbreak of violence while ensuring the sustenance of peace. Parliaments, therefore, should give priority to the prevention of the outbreak of violence, its escalation, continuation and non – recurrence while addressing the potential causes of instability leading to violence. In addition, the passage of legislation by the Parliament of Sri Lanka setting up of an Office of Missing Persons (OMP) is another commendable step towards Sri Lanka’s path to sustained peace while strengthening human rights and democracy. The primary mandate of the OMP is to ‘ensure necessary measures to provide appropriate mechanisms to search and trace missing persons, as well as to clarify the circumstances in which such persons went missing, and their fate’.
Sumathipala stated that, It is timely to reflect on climate change as it has become even more relevant in the context of variety of challenges beset by the entire humanity from global climate shocks.Thus, climate action remains a priority in the SDGs.
Sri Lanka has consistently accorded priority to curb drastic effects of climate change. The role of Parliament in particular, is pivotal in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. For instance, Parliament’s dedication to achieve climate change related SDGs in Sri Lanka is visible via the unanimous approval of the ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change on 21st September 2016.
Sumathipala also mentioned that The Parliamentary Select Committee appointed on October 25 last year has been mandated to make recommendations to ensure the realization of 2030 Agenda for SDGs and the 17 Goals were divided into four clusters with the assistance of UNDP, and the four clusters will look into its parameters as to where we are today where we want to be what is the gap.