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Five economic zones cornerstone of economic policy - GL

by Ravi Ladduwahetty

The demarcation of the country into five economic zones is the cornerstone of accelerated economic development, Minister of Enterprise Development, Investment Promotion, Industrial Policy and Constitutional Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris said yesterday.

He said:"This would mean that the Government would accelerate the development programmes of these regions as there is a Minister of Cabinet rank for each of these zones. These Ministries will be coordinating with a special unit which will be set up in the Ministry of Policy Planning and Implementation and will be personally under Ministry Secretary Charitha Ratwatte and progress would be ascertained and reviewed on a periodical basis.

Prof. Peiris, who addressed journalists on the Government's 100 day programme, said the strategies of the UNF Government had been formulated on a tripartite basis - economic, political and social - so that the Government could interact with people of all walks of life.

Commenting on the immediate measures to be implemented, Prof. Peiris said:" Farmers will have access to mediation boards for getting their deeds approved and authorised to get loans. The second programme will be to ensure that private and public sector employees will be afforded the discretion of investing their EPF/ETF funds in a venue of their choice.

Investing their earnings in the Central Bank, whose function is to provide low cost funds to the Government, is a betrayal and the violation of the rights of the people. In countries such as Singapore, the employees have the right to decide on where to invest their earnings, he said.

Prof. Peiris said that it was heartening that the Manila based Asian Development Bank had provided funds to the tune of US$ 86 million for the resurgence of the Small and Medium Sector as a vote of confidence after the assumption of office by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. This should augur well for the beleaguered SMI sector, he noted.

Prof. Peiris also said that the Government will create legislation where a certain percentage of women will receive representation at the forthcoming local Government polls which is scheduled for March 2002 in keeping up with their aspirations. A youth force will also be created.

On the political front, the Government will also ensure that the 17th Amendment to the Constitution is also implemented in January which will ensure the establishment of the Constitutional Council and with it the independent commissions for Police, Elections, Judiciary and the Public Service.

" This will also ensure that we will also not have a relapse of the December 5 Parliamentary polls again in this country," he said.

Prof. Peiris said:" The whole purpose of Government is to make life easier for people. That is why there is visible relief from all sections of the community. The fact that the Government has opened all the blocked roads which have been so for the last few years has been instrumental in the free movement of people and goods and seen as a refreshing change which has been enthusiastically welcome.

The 100 days programme, which is effective from January 1 2002, will be like a scorecard where people will be able to see for themselves the progress and tick the boxes themselves on projects which have been fully implemented and partially implemented, he said.

The Government will have a critical appraisal of these proposals in a spirit of self criticism which will also have the candid views of the people. That is the way that we will be setting about solving the problems of the country, he added.

This division would also like the members of the public to send in their suggestions on development work at all times and that is the only way that it can make it more meaningful, Prof. Peiris noted. Minister of Power and Energy Karu Jayasuriya will also ensure that power cuts will also not take place in the foreseeable future.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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