President Maithripala Sirisena is to launch a macro program in order to prioritize alleviating poverty from the island nation, Cabinet Spokesperson, Rajitha Senaratne told reporters on Wednesday.

"The government has paid its attention on alleviating poverty according to the pledge given in Presidential Election 2015 and according to the UN sustainable development goals," Senaratne said.

He added that the government had also recognised that economic development should consider social security, minimizing income differences, marginalized communities due to various reasons and development diversities in provincial and district levels.

Accordingly, the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, to declare the year 2017 as the 'Year of Alleviating Poverty' by recognizing the need of a macro programme and giving priority to a collective approach and to supervise the programme by a Committee comprised of relevant ministers and partners and headed by the President and the Prime Minister, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

(Xinhua)