Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake addressed the Asian Investment Conference 2016 at the Conrad Hotel in Hong Kong, at which he said that critically analysing national debt and evaluating the veracity of the data and statistics relating to the recent past was an important part of assuming duties as the 20th Finance Minister of Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the ceremony he said, "I am privileged to be here at this most prestigious 19th Asia Investment Conference to address you, representing my country which has gone through not only a period of protracted strife but also a period of misrule and bad governance."
"The incumbent government has been installed by the mandate of the people through a most democratic election held on January 8, 2015. On 9th January a new sense of freedom drifted across the nation bringing in a surfeit of good governance, transparency and accountability."
He said that although the economic woes of the country did not heal immediately: "We are at the threshold of an economic resurgence, strengthened by sound fiscal policy based on the principles of good governance."
"Our economic policies rested on the medium term strategies of generating one million employment opportunities, enhancing income levels, developing rural economies, ensuring land ownership to all strata of society and the creation of a wide and strong middle class," he said.
He said Sri Lanka was gradually edging closer to achieving "middle income" status with a guarded outlook to ensure that "we do not fall into the infamous paradox on attaining such status".
He said the budget presented in November 2015 created new vistas for the private sector with an emphasis of "Public - private partnerships".
"Our proposals for public infrastructure development in Education, Health and Housing depict a huge increase but the principle of "Public - private partnership" will be adopted at all times," he said.
He also said the Colombo Stock Exchange will be explored to develop capital markets in Sri Lanka to ensure vibrancy and dynamism of the sector."
There will be ample opportunity for the entrepreneurs to venture into this sector and the government will provide necessary assistance," he said.
He invited the investor fraternity to visit Sri Lanka and be a global partner in the economic success of the nation.
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