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| Tuesday, 6 July 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| UPFA assured of bigger mandate at PC polls by Shirajiv Sirimane The Sri Lankan economy after a long lapse is on a sound track. This would result in more political stability to the United People's Freedom Alliance at the forthcoming Provincial Council elections. Central Bank Deputy Governor W. A. Wijewardene last week announced that Sri Lanka has recorded a positive growth of 6.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2004 and this was the highest growth rate recorded in the past seven quarters. "This augurs well for future growth," he said. This also resulted in a boom in the Stock market which has increased investor confidence. Exports have increased by 14 per cent in the first quarter of this year, mainly due to sound economic management of the country, said Central Bank Assistant Governor Dr. A. G. Karunasena. Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said foreign donors are satisfied with the Sri Lankan economic strategy and they have stated that they would help Sri Lanka in the future. Dr. Amunugama said that foreign donors including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were pleased by the Government's poverty alleviation program. "They also expressed their satisfaction on the plans adopted by the Government to increase revenue," he said. Political analysts said the UPFA has in just two months fulfilled their political pledges by providing fertiliser subsidies, employment for graduates and other incentives. He said the people too had identified the good work done by the Government and had pledged their solidarity at the North Western Provincial (NWP) council elections. "Once again, voters in the NWP have given a bigger majority to the ruling party," Amunugama said. The people voted the government into power with a massive 750,000 majority. Unfortunately, the present Constitution does not show this people's majority in Parliament. The Opposition has realised that the UPFA is on the correct path and this is why the opposition is engaged in blocking tactics in Parliament. "They want to sabotage the smooth flow of the UPFA," he said. He said the people will come to the Provincial Council polls in large numbers and give the biggest majority to UPFA candidates. "The provincial council election result would deliver another devastating blow to the Opposition," he predicted. |
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