Lanka maintains 7.2% development rate despite conflict: PM

Seelaratne Senerath in Zagreb, Croatia

CROATIA: Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka met his Croatian counterpart Dr. Ivo Sander and discussed matters of mutual interest, including the promotion of trade and tourism.

The two leaders also signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Wickramanayaka said Sri Lanka while engulfed in a conflict against terrorism had still managed to maintain a development rate of 7.2 per cent.

Sri Lanka is fortunate to have friendly relations with many countries and they had all seen the true face of terrorism, the Prime Minister said.

Doors are being closed against the LTTE all over the world, he said.

Any country or organisation that assists terrorism would only be assisting death and destruction. Croatia which has experienced war knows the pain of such death and destruction, Wickramanayaka said.

“Flowing from this MoU, I am confident that our two countries will have mutually very beneficial relations,” the Prime Minister said.

Croatian Prime Minister Dr. Sander said the MoU would renew and strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.

He welcomed and appreciated the Sri Lanka Prime Minister’s visit. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country ideal for tourism.

The Croatian Government will co-operate fully in promoting tourism between the two countries and also promote shipping and naval affairs, he said.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Mahinda Bandusena, Secretary to the Prime Minister and officials in the investment field.