Opposition's economic prophesies a shattered dream - Minister

Lakshmi DE SILVA

The Opposition's economic prophesies of doom claiming the economy and the Government would collapse in April this year with prices of goods increasing by 300 percent due to the increase of the Nation Building Tax from one to three percent has become a shattered dream, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Cooperatives Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

"The Government is moving in the direction of a stronger economy and political stability and it would only be a matter of time to achieve those goals," the Minister told a press conference in Colombo yesterday.

The Government has defeated terrorism and the fertile lands that were unused during the past 30 years would be cultivated. Two third of the sea restricted for fishing during the past is now free as the ban on fishing is lifted and fishermen would strengthen their livelihood. Already, a Japanese company Sumitomo has agreed to cultivate bananas in the Eastern Province in a 1,000 acre land area. Such projects just need time, Gunawardena said.

While facing four major obstacles, terrorism at its peak, economic downturn, high prices of oil which went upto US $ 147 a barrel , and a food crisis in the world, the Government proved its capability by facing all these problems at the same time but maintaining financial and political stability.

No other leader had faced such problems at once but President Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to overcome most of them, the Minister said.