Sri Lanka still neighbour’s envy

Sri Lanka has the lowest maternal mortality rate (MMR) in south east Asia and its infant mortality rate (MMR) is better than many wealthier countries, the United Nation’s second report on Millennium Development Goal (MDG) progress has said.

Sri Lanka has the lowest maternal mortality rate (MMR) in south east Asia and its infant mortality rate (MMR) is better than many wealthier countries, the United Nation’s second report on Millennium Development Goal (MDG) progress has said.

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“At its current level of 11.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, IMR (infant mortality rate) is lower than that achieved by countries considerably wealthier than Sri Lanka,’’ the report, released on Tuesday, said.

The report said poverty had declined from 26.1 per cent in 1990-91 to 15.2 per cent in 2006-07. Besides, Sri Lanka has almost achieved the universal primary education target with net enrollment rate reaching 97.5 per cent in 2006/07 for both males and females.