‘Country making progress overcoming many obstacles’

Finance and Media minister Mangala Samaraweera asserted that the country is now moving forward with a stable economy after overcoming many obstacles in the past.

Minister Samaraweera noted that when the new government assumed office there were two main challenges to resolve, the huge debt problem and the rights issue which had tarnished Sri Lanka’s image in the eyes of the international community.

Minister Samaraweera was speaking at a ceremony organised to commence the ‘Matara stage IV water supply project’ at the National Water Supply & Draining Board Office premises at Nupe,Matara last Sunday.

“When we came to office, this government was burdened with many things.

Debt was one, human rights violations was another. We have been able to successfully address both issues by now. We have more challenges in this regards but we are on the right track”, Minister Samaraweera said.

The minister explaining the debt situation noted “Sri Lanka has to repay Rs.3.2 trillion of debts within the next two years but our annual income is only Rs. 3.12 trillion“.

“The minister said, “we have to find ways and means to pay theses debts in 2018 and 2019. It should be noted that of this 82% were loans obtained by the previous government. By leasing the Hambanthota Port, we have been able to attract investors to the Hambanthota, Monaragala, Galle and Matara districts not only from China but from South Korea, Germany, India and Japan.

“With similar ventures in the pipeline, we would be able to increase government revenue,” the Minister said.

The minister also noted that it was the government’s policy to develop the country in collaboration with other nations.

“Whenever development projects were introduced they have always met with criticism but it is those who criticised the

most in the past that are making most use of them now. It is now that we are laying the foundation to develop this nation for the future generations,” Minister Samaraweera added.

The minister also stressed that the government will not pass on the country’s debt to the future generations.

He said the government has initiated a massive islandwide development programme and the public will receive the benefits of the programme within a very short period.