Country moving on higher growth path - FM

Uditha Kumarasinghe Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

KOTTE: The country has achieved a growth rate of seven per cent which demonstrates that the country has now moved on to a higher growth path, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Parliament yesterday.

“This growth has been achieved due to the Government’s favourable policies towards industrial and service sectors followed by the agriculture sector achieving a higher growth rate in comparison with recent years,” Minister Bogollagama said.

“This budget has correctly addressed several issues by catering to the fundamental requirements of the people. The Government has guided the economy in the right manner despite the global economic downturn,” he said.

The Minister said State properties will not be sold.

“We have been able to provide relief amidst a number of obstacles such as terrorism and increasing oil prices. The TNA is trying to whitewash Prabhakaran. They have forgotten the fact that Prabhakaran is the person who was responsible for assassination of many Tamil leaders,” Minister Bogollagama said.

Tamils in the Eastern Province live peacefully due to initiatives made by the President. We are trying our best to bring peace to the country. We have safeguarded fundamental rights of the people. The Government has successfully implemented mega projects which will contribute to strengthen the country’s enterprises locally and internationally.

“We follow strong foreign financing to improve the utilisation of foreign aid to reap the highest possible benefits from committed and future development assistance,” he said.

“We are combatting terrorism while developing the enhancement of democratic activities.

“The major aim of the military is to protect the people. This country belongs to all. The budget has provided numerous incentives to boost local productivity by taking measures to discourage imports,” Minister Bogollagama said.

The Minister said Opposition has an understanding of what the Government is doing today.

“But they are hesitating to accept the Government’s positive moves. If our Government privatised all public assets how could the Government supply all facilities to the public. We have been maintaining a 6.5 per cent economic growth consecutively during the last few years under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” Bogollagama said.

“Barak Obama said he stands for freedom and liberty. But our Government stands for freedom, liberty as well as security because security has been threatened in our country,” he said.