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| Saturday, 7 February 2004 |
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Prime Minister meets business Leaders The business sector should come forward and engage themselves in investment activities at this juncture, when development projects in information technology, tourism, and construction fields that yield job opportunities are planned islandwide, thereby finding a solution to the unemployment problem said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, a press release from the office of the Government spokesman said yesterday. The Prime Minister was speaking to the business leaders yesterday at the Temple Trees when he asked the business sector to invest in developing projects to find a solution to the unemployment pro blem. The Prime Minister was clarifying to the business sector the government's 10 year plan to develop infrastructure and Regaining Sri Lanka. The airport at Kuda Oya Wellawaya, coal power plant at Hambantota, Kalpitiya, Wilpattu Tourist Project, Kehragala Makandura Export Processing Zone and outer Colombo (Town) development project are some of the projects that have got successful attention. As such some of these projects could start by June this year, he clarified. The Free Trade Agreement to be signed between America and Sri Lanka will be a good opportunity to the business sector and for youths expecting new jobs. Nevertheless their suspicion over the SLFP-JVP Alliance has slowed down the activities to some extent, the Prime Minister explained. Signs that farmers will get a good price for their Yala harvest is already seen, Wickremesinghe said. He promised continuous power supply without any cuts to industrialists. Investments to the tune of US $ 250 million was lost to the country due to the political instability in the country. Steps are taken to get back this investment, he said. The UNF government signed the MoU with the LTTE in February 2001 with all ministerial powers in hand. But that picture has now changed. A s a result implementing of some clauses in the MoU can not be continued. As such another procedure that will legally provide the powers needed to keep that agreement is sought after, the Prime Minister said. Mano-Malik Committee is negotiating on this issue. However Government activities keep normalcy in North-East will continue, the Prime Minister assured. Japan's special envoy Yashushi Akashi has put forward a proposal in preparing such a procedure. Other countries involved in the peace process too have made similar proposals. The government hopes to study these proposals and arrive at a solution, he said. Countries which hosted the Tokyo Donor Conference are to hold a special meeting in Washington on February 17. As such, the government is now trying its best to come to an agreement in this issue before that date, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister explaining the cohabitation talks between him and the President, to the business sector, said the Mano-Malik Committee has submitted some proposals. Apart from this, steps are to be taken where PA and UNF will work in conjunction in the future. Such cohabitation talks will continue as lasting peace is an essential necessity for the country's future development, he said. The LTTE is moving away from war and we should accept the international stance in this issue, he said. Business leaders asked the Prime Minister to refrain from dissolving Parliament and going in for a snap election as that will affect the country's economy drastically. The Prime Minister replied that dissolving the Parliament is not in his hands and although he has not proposed such dissolution, he was hopeful in winning election and forming a more powerful government than at present. |
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