Foundation laid for giant economic leap - PM

Monday, January 22, 2018

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed that Sri Lanka has great potential to take a giant economic step to reach a developed nation by 2025.

The Prime Minister made these remarks participating in a television interview on Swarnavahini last night.

The Premier further said the government is duty bound to create a better economic environment and a country with economic stability for the next generation.

“We are establishing a sound economic platform aiming for a speedy journey towards economic prosperity” he noted.

The Prime Minister added that moves have been taken to increase the Gross Domestic Product by twofold during this decade. The country is receiving foreign investments and the country will harvest the benefits of this by next year. The mountain of loans to be repaid has been brought down to the manageable position. However, the GDP probably should be increased in the coming years, resulting in the country being able to settle loans more comfortably. The Prime Minister further noted that export income will also be trebled in due course and then the country will reach a comfort zone.

Speaking on the Hambantota port and the Mattala International Airport, the Prime Minister added that the port has been converted to profit making venture. “The harbour is not a burden to the country’s economy anymore,” he said. The Mattla Airport will also be utilised for the wellbeing of the country.

Asked whether the economic achievement of this Government is at a satisfactory level, the Prime Minister said that it can be totally satisfied with the preliminary measures taken to uplift the country’s economy. “It was taken two years to establish a sound economic platform,”he said.

“The country will be developed economically by establishing five mega economic zones. To achieve economic prosperity, the country’s infrastructure will see a huge turnaround with mega projects,” he said.