Workshop on “Promoting Productive Social Protection & Labour Systems in Sri Lanka for Inclusive Growth: Developing an Integrated Social Protection & Labour Strategy”

IPS, Department of National Planning of the Ministry of Finance and Planning together with the World Bank organized a workshop on “Promoting Productive Social Protection & Labour Systems in Sri Lanka for Inclusive Growth: Developing an Integrated Social Protection & Labour Strategy” at the IPS Auditorium on 25th and 26th June 2012, as a platform through which a policy and implementation dialogue could be started with relevant stakeholders and concerned parties on the subject of Social Protectionism in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director of the IPS, delivered the welcome address. Dr. Kelegama stressed that despite the fact that the poverty headcount ratio has dropped from 15.2 per cent in 2006/07 to 8.9 per cent by 2009/10 and that the gap between the urban, rural and estate sector poverty levels has narrowed down, much more remains to be done in order to address the inequalities that persists between regions. He added that changes need to be implemented in order to promote Inclusive Growth.

Chief Guest, Hon. D.E.W. Gunasekera in his address stated that as a result of Sri Lanka’s rapidly aging population, adequate revisions and amendments need to be enforced to the existing national Social Protection Policy, in order to avoid a crisis in the future.

Ms. Diarietou Gaye – Country Director for the World Bank in Sri Lanka also addressed the workshop. The Chilean Vice-Minister for Social Security, Mr. Augusto Iglesias Palau and the Chilean Ambassador-designate to Sri Lanka and Mr. Christian Barros, shared the Chilean experience with the other participants at the workshop.

Dr. B.M.S. Batagoda, Director General of the Department of National Planning, gave a comprehensive context to the call for amendments to the Social Protection Policy.

Highlights in the Media

http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/06/28/news18.asp

http://www.ft.lk/2012/06/27/d-e-w-gunasekera-addresses-issues-of-social-protection/