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Lanka leads South Asia in human development: UNDP
Sri Lanka stands out as the sole country in South Asia to maintain its High Human Development status in the latest United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Report. Amidst a landscape of mixed advancements and challenges across the region, Sri Lanka’s consistent performance underscores its unwavering commitment to prioritizing the well-being and development of its people.
The UNDP’s Human Development Report 2023/2024 was released recently (March 15) in New York shedding light on the progress and disparities in human development across the globe. Central to this report is the Human Development Index (HDI), a comprehensive measure gauging average achievements in crucial dimensions of human development.
The HDI underscores the significance of prioritizing people and their capabilities over mere economic growth. It encompasses three fundamental aspects: leading a long and healthy life, acquiring knowledge, and attaining a decent standard of living.
In South Asia, the Human Development Index delineates a mixed landscape. Notably, no South Asian nation ranks within the top category of “Very High Human Development.” Sri Lanka and the Maldives are designated under “High Human Development,” while India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar fall into the bracket of “Medium Human Development.” Pakistan and Afghanistan, unfortunately, find themselves classified under “Low Human Development.”
The rankings, based on data from the year 2022, depict a nuanced narrative of progress and stagnation. Sri Lanka has witnessed a slight decline in its ranking, while the Maldives has experienced a modest improvement. Bhutan maintains its position, whereas Bangladesh and India have seen marginal advancements. Nepal emerges as the most improved country in South Asia. Conversely, Pakistan has slightly progressed, while Afghanistan has faced a slight setback.
A brief analysis underscores the challenges hindering substantial progress in human development within South Asia. Despite robust economic growth in countries like India and Bangladesh, disparities persist in life expectancy and education. Governance issues, exemplified by poor or absent formal structures in Pakistan and Afghanistan, contribute to the region’s limited progress.
The contrast between Maldives and Sri Lanka, consistently categorized under “High Human Development,” and larger South Asian nations underscores the influence of population size and economic independence on HDI rankings. However, it’s evident that a high HDI doesn’t necessarily ensure economic security, as both nations grapple with significant debt dependency.
The report’s definitions, ranging from life expectancy at birth to gross national income (GNI) per capita, offer deeper insights into the factors influencing human development trajectories.
A meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), was held today (21) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the discussion, Admiral Paparo extended his best wishes to President Disanayake and the new government on their planned initiatives. He also acknowledged Sri Lanka’s continued support in ensuring the security of the Indian Ocean region and maintaining a peaceful maritime environment.
Furthermore, Admiral Paparo reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to strengthening the enduring bilateral ties between the two nations and expressed support for Sri Lanka’s new governmental policies.
President Disanayake conveyed his appreciation for the assistance provided by the United States in enhancing human resources within Sri Lanka’s defence sector. The President also acknowledged the longstanding support extended by the U.S. in this regard.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, Lieutenant Colonel Anthony C. Nelson of the U.S. Army, and Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the United States Indo-Pacific Command David Ranz were also present at the meeting.
SriLankan Airlines has announced that SriLankan Airlines flights UL 503 (Colombo to London Heathrow), scheduled to depart at 12:50 hrs and UL 504 (London Heathrow to Colombo), scheduled to depart at 20:40 hrs today [21 March 2025], have been cancelled.
Passengers requiring assistance are encouraged to contact the SriLankan Airlines Customer Centre at 1979 (within Sri Lanka), +94117 77 1979 (international) or +94744 44 1979 (WhatsApp chat) or reach out to their nearest SriLankan Airlines office or their travel agent.
The United Kingdom’s Heathrow airport has closed until midnight on Friday due to a power outage, throwing the plans of tens of thousands of travellers into chaos.
London’s main airport, which is Europe’s busiest gateway, said on Friday that it had suffered a “significant” power failure due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the facility.
“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March,” Heathrow airport said in a post on X.
“Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 said the shutdown would affect “at least” 1,351 flights.
“We’re trying to stop passengers from travelling to the airport, and then work with airline partners on flights that are delayed, diverted, or cancelled,” a Heathrow spokesperson told Al Jazeera. “Passengers can reach out to airline partners to work on rebooking.”
Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull, reporting from London, said the roads leading to the airport were blocked, causing “traffic chaos locally”.
“But local traffic disruption is nothing compared to the air traffic disruptions that will be spreading around the world,” he said.
Heathrow is one of the most globally connected airports and regularly ranks among the top five busiest gateways worldwide.
The airport serves more than 200 destinations in nearly 90 different countries and territories, and last year handled nearly 84 million passengers, the largest number on record.
[Aljazeera]
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