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We hail successful Southern businessmen around country -Minister Kularatne

from A. W. Gunawardhana, Matara Central correspondent

As a Minister born and bred in the South, I have great responsibility to develop the South, a harbour, an oil refinery, an Air Port and a free trade zone are some of the projects ear-marked to be carried out in the district of Hambantota very soon. Once these projects are commissioned we could expect a better future for the people of the area, and the business community in the region.

We are proud of successful Southerners in the business community dispersed throughout the Island said the Minister of Southern Region Development Ananda Kularatne.

He was addressing as chief guest at the ceremony held in connection with the distribution of awards to winners of "Sri Lanka Entrepreneur, Southern Province of the year 2001 grading held at Ruhuna Cultural Centre, Matara. It was jointly organised by the Matara District Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka.Minister Kularatne said, no business could be run without the goodwill of the customers.

Therefore awards must first be earned from the customers. Only the businessmen and members of their families are aware of the difficulties undergone by them to achieve success in the enterprises run by them. Under any or all governments in power, they have to clamour for co-operation of the former to run their business.

At least 28-30% interest will have to be paid even if a loan is raised from a Bank, with much difficulties. If an overdraft to the value of one million is drawn from a Bank, in five years' time another one million has to be paid by way of interest alone, he said.

Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources and Deputy Minister of Southern Region Development Mahinda Wijesekara said, our forefathers who had the opportunity of carrying on various types of trades with the Portuguese, Dutch, and British had migrated to various parts of the Island, to prosper in their business. The system adopted by low-country Traders (Pahatarata Mudalali Kramaya) is now outdated. Business is the art of Management of any commercial institution. Those who managed their business very well have earned colours today.

He said the political decision taken by me in the month of October last year was proved correct at the last general election. That decision was not opportunistic. We appreciate co-operation extended to us by the business community at the last election. The twenty year old war has now taken a peaceful turn. Now a constitutional conflict has arisen. It is the duty of the opposition too, not to upset the peace process now followed by the Government. An election at this time will do no good for anyone. Therefore the Executive and the Legislative must act in harmony to overcome the difficulties.

Chairman of the Matara District Chamber of Commerce and Industry H. B. Wijayanandane and several others also spoke.

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