The contribution of women in Sri Lanka's successful realization of most of th...

“The contribution of women in Sri Lanka's successful realization of most of the MDGs is significant. Women, being literate, also encourage their children to focus on education and aspire to higher goals. The traditional knowledge of mothers on maternal health, coupled with their educational background, has contributed significantly to reducing the child mortality rate to 8.9 per thousand and the maternal mortality rate to 39 per 100,000 live births. It is through the participation of women, that Sri Lanka has been recognized for its achievements in the WHO breastfeeding promotion and immunization programmes. I note with pride that Sri Lanka produced the first elected woman Prime Minister in the world in 1960.”