Beyond Your Pension: What Should Be Done?

Life expectancy has reached 74.9 years in Sri Lanka today. This reflects the considerable successes the country has achieved in its social development during the post – independence era. These include the control of Malaria, free education and health, provision of welfare services, and delivery of basic infrastructure services, including transport connectivity, electricity and water and sanitation to a wide cross section of the people. This has, in turn, been reflected in Sri Lanka achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) before the 2015 deadline and its impressive ranking on the UNDP’s Human Development Index. The quality of life of families has also been improved by a successful voluntary population policy program. Much of the improvement in the social indicators that have led to the rise in life expectancy may be attributed to the impressive progress that has been made in educating the girl child. There is considerable evidence from around the world of the great impact a mother’s education has on the welfare and life chances of a family.