Achieving Millennium Development Goals and statistical barriers in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are now being a popular topic which gathered every nation towards a common set of goals. MDGs have been declared by UN as a benchmark and with a view to establish peace, security, development, human rights and fundamental freedom in every nation in the world by year 2015. Progress and the achievements of these goals by each country will be measured using around 26 indicators. This study examines the progress of Sri Lanaka towards achieving MDGs and to assess whether sufficient statistical data are collected by the responsible authorities to measure the achievements properly and promptly. To assess this, secondary data of various socio economic indicators were used, which also use by the UN to explain the progress and achievement of MDGs. Trend analysis was used as the statistical tool. It is envisaged that Sri Lanaka has a potential to achieve some of important MDGs by year 2015 if the trend continues as now. But most of the indicators are based on estimations and as a management point of view if a goal to be achieved there should be accurate indicators. Therefore the most controversial fact is that Sri Lankan institutions of health, education, local governments do not collect some essential data to have a better picture on whether Sri Lanaka will able to achieve MDGs as set by the UN by 2015. Moreover it is observed that there is no link between these institutions and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Department of Census and Statistics. Therefore it is observed that there is a critical gap between collected data and required data to measure the progress and achievement of MDGs It is recommended that statistical authorities of Sri Lanaka should focus their attention towards collecting of vital information such as infant mortality rate, HIV/AIDS related statistics, contraceptive related statistics, sanitary related statistics, statistics on donor and ODA etc, since it has been identified as a main drawback today.