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| Friday, 2 August 2002 |
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by Kuliyapitiya group correspondent The prices of essential commodities such as rice, coconuts, imported fruits, vegetables and medicinal drugs would be reduced with the introduction of VAT since they were exempted from VAT. 6.5% National Security Tax was levied on those commodities but that was abolished by VAT. So the prices of those essential commodities should be reduced at least by 6.5 p.c., said the Minister of Rural Economy and Deputy Minister of Finance Bandula Gunawardena at the Kuliyapitiya Jana Jaya 2002 ceremony held at Kuliyapitiya Town Hall. The Minister added that it was true that people were undergoing severe hardships due to the present economic depression, but those difficulties would not last long. The economic growth of the country when the UNF took over power was -1.4, but within the first quarter of 2002 it had risen to 2.9. A growth of 1.5 in three months. That is a miracle. He said our endeavour is to increase the flow of money to the villages. We have plenty of resources in rural areas. The only fault was that they had not been identified and utilised for the benefit of the villagers. We rectify that longstanding error and utilise the rural resources to produce value added products for the world market. The Minister said under that policy Export Production Companies would be started in every district, 51 p.c. of the shares of which would be for the exporter, 28 p.c. is for the producer, 16 p.c. is for the Rural Economy Ministry and 5 p.c. is for the EDB. He said the producer would have a dual advantage by this. His production would get a demand in the foreign market and at the end of the year he would get the dividend for his investment. The Minister said under the Inland Revenue (Special Provisions) Act, the provisions were given to invest the undeclared assets without questioning how they were earned. That would be a boon for the economy since such money would be invested in development projects providing more job opportunities and adding additional assets to the national economy. He said it is not easy to build a fallen country, yet we would not give up. We will restore the financial discipline and introduce a proper financial management. So that wastage and corruption could be eradicated. That would be the first step of development. The Minister said we still suffer from the "Karume" inherited from the previous regime. However, now we are on the correct track of developing the country. The benefits of the development would go to the people in due course. So the difficulties and heavy burdens they undergo today would be eased by the end of this year. The Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management Gamini Jayawickrema Perera said that the ongoing peace process would be helpful for the rapid economic development. The Minister of Samurdhi R. A. D. Sirisena said that the Samurdhi Movement would be depoliticised and reliefs given only to the needy. The target of the movement was eradication of poverty, that target could be achieved only if the movement was depoliticised. The Minister of State Transport Piyasoma Upali said that Jana Jaya 2002 was held to felicitate the people of Kuliyapitiya for their faith and confidence kept on the UNP for the last 25 years. Ever since 1977 the UNP won the Kuliyapitiya electoral division and a UNP MP was elected to represent the division. No other party could elect an MP to represent Kuliyapitiya at any parliamentary election. That is a unique record and a triumph of the people of Kuliyapitiya. |
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