'Six pc growth amidst world recession, terrorism'

CHAMINDA PERERA

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champaka Ranawaka yesterday said the country has been maintaining over six percent economic growth rate amidst world economic recession and the terrorism.

Speaking at a press conference at the Mahaweli Centre, Minister Ranawaka said the national debt rate against the Gross National Product was reduced from 104 in 2002 to 80 in 2009.

The Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has succeeded in rectifying a number of problems faced by the people. The UNP regime during their 17 year administration added only 200 MW to the national grid but the Government will add more than 2000 MW with the completion of coal and thermal power plants in next two years, he said.

The country faced an unprecedented energy crisis during the UNP regime. The then government imposed power cuts to save energy.

The Minister said the UNP has no plan on how the country's increasing demands for energy is met. Not a single power generation project was started by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during his tenure as Prime Minister.

Farmers in rural areas will benefit by a number of irrigation projects launched by the Government. The construction of Weheragala, Ramaken Oya, Deduru Oya, and Kuda Oya have already been commenced, he said.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister imposed various restrictions on the recruitment of employees to the public service and several profit making government ventures were earmarked for privatisation.

The country's nerve centres was to be privatized when the three Ministries were brought under the then President, he said.