Dr Bilesha Weeraratne Highlights the Importance of Reliable and Comprehensive Migration Data for Achieving SDG Targets

31 July 2024

The Sensitization Workshop on the Correlation Between Migration and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was recently held as part of an ongoing project to develop a national framework to measure the progress and contribution of migration towards achieving the SDGs. Organised by the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka (SDCSL), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the workshop took place at the IOM Premises – the Institute of Bankers Sri Lanka.

The workshop, conducted by IPS Research Fellow Dr Bilesha Weeraratne, brought together stakeholders from government and non-governmental organizations to deepen their understanding of the intersection between migration and sustainable development. Dr Weeraratne emphasised the critical role of accurate and comprehensive migration data in achieving SDG targets and discussed the challenges of integrating migration into Sri Lanka’s national development agenda. She also highlighted the importance of collaboration among data producers and users to ensure that migration’s contribution to the SDGs is effectively tracked and leveraged for policymaking.

Participants engaged in interactive sessions, including group discussions on specific SDGs and their relevance to Sri Lanka, identifying gaps in current data practices, and exploring ways to align their work with national development goals.