The progress is measured by changes in the Human Development Index (HDI) - which measures country achievements in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income, according to the report, launched in Brazil Tuesday.
The Human Development Index for Sri Lanka rose in 2007 by 0.004 to 0.743 in 2007 from 0.739 in 2006.
The country’s GDP per capita at purchasing power parity was calculated at 4,595 dollars in 2007 as against 4,400 dollars in 2006. "Similarly, life expectancy at birth showed a slight improvement to 71.6 years in 2007 from 71.3 years in 2006," the report said.
Other indicators of the global Index such as adult literacy rate and enrolment ratio for education remained constant at 90.7 percent and 62.7 percent.
Currently, Sri Lanka’s 2005 HDI of 0.743 is above the regional average of 0.611 for South Asian countries.
It is also above average for all developing countries of 0.691and for medium human development countries of 0.698.
In the South Asia region, Sri Lanka’s nearest “HDI neighbours” are the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Maldives, ranked 94 and 100.
The island ranked 99 out of 177 countries, just above the Maldives who ranked 100 with a HDI score of 0.741.
Sri Lanka's performance according to the UN indicators was achieved despite the island suffering what is known as Asia's longest-running insurgency.
Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting for a separate state for minority Tamils in the island's north and east since 1983.
The latest flare-up in the violence occurred Wednesday morning when a Tiger female suicide bomber blew herself up outside the office of a Tamil political party leader who is now a government minister.
All Rights Reserved.