Govt. curbs man-made threats by imposing tough law enforcement - Defence Secretary
July 31, 2020Defence Secretary Maj.Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said although mitigating natural disasters were difficult, the Government had taken all initiatives to curb man-made threats by imposing a strict law enforcement mechanism in the recent past.
“The country had been able to manage illegal activities to a greater extent in the recent past by streamlining the law enforcement mechanism,” he said at a meeting held to discuss the role of Defence Ministry officials in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The workshop on ‘Developing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Incorporated/Mainstreamed Public Service Delivery Strategy’ to educate ministry officials on SDGs was held at the Ministry, today.
“The SDGs refer to a country where rule of law functions well for its people to live free of fear, every woman and girl child is safe and where every child grows up free from violence. These are the very aspects in the agenda of Defence Ministry under the policy framework of the government that has given highest priority to national security,” he said.
Attributing climate change, cross-border environmental degradation and resource depletion, infectious diseases, natural disasters, food shortages and other similar aspects as natural threats, he said man-made threats like illegal migration, gun running, human smuggling, drug trafficking and conflicts of low, medium and high intensity were are some of the threats governments needed to address.
“We being Government officers are bounded by the responsibility vested on us to give our fullest support to the National Policy Framework in all possible avenues available to us. In order to identify the avenues available in our mandates, we should have a better understanding on the Sustainable Development Goals that provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future,” he said.
The Defence Secretary said as a nation, Sri Lanka had always demonstrated its commitment to the global effort in protecting the environment, promoting social justice and fostering economic prosperity.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets forth 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets to be achieved in a 15-year period commencing from 1st January 2016.
It provides a framework for collective action to be implemented by all countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaboration and partnership.
The 10 key policies of the National Policy Framework ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’, contains several aspects highlighted in the 2030 Agenda and promises more peaceful and inclusive country.
Maj. Gen. Gunaratne said the global agenda to achieve peaceful, just, inclusive and equitable development was very well fitted into Sri Lanka’s development policy priorities.
