SL quality of life high comparably-UNFPA
Social and economic indicators for Sri Lanka have shown tremendous improvement compared to other countries in the region, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Resident Representative Dr. Som Pudasaini said last week.

Speaking at the launch of the State of the World's Population 2002 report and the change of the UNFPA logo, Dr. Pudasaini said, "Sri Lanka has done a tremendous job. Given the very difficult circumstances and despite being poor, Sri Lanka has achieved all the goals taken up at the Cairo conference".

However, he said, although the national averages were commendable, there were still under-served areas that lacked improvement. The plantation sector, slum areas, and the dry zones, to name a few, have yet to improve.

Among challenges that Sri Lanka was faced with is the aging population. Today, Sri Lanka's aging population is 11% and this is likely to go up to 20%-22% in the next 20 years demanding a restructure of present policies.

Concern over the HIV/AIDS situation was also expressed. "We are in a zone where the situation can change very quickly although Sri Lanka is a low prevalence country," Dr. Pudasaini warned.

Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Reggie Perera raised the issue of promiscuity being on the rise in Sri Lanka. Referring to a research he said, a little over 40% of males and 4% of females had admitted to having had pre-marital sexual intercourse.

According to UNFPA, half the new HIV/AIDS cases in the world are among young people aged 15-24, many of whom lack information about how to protect themselves and access to needed services. Moreover, half those identified as having HIV in Sri Lanka comprise West Asia returnees.

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