Make use of intellectuals- PM

Disna Mudalige

Sri Lanka has to make use of its intellectuals without letting them emigrate for foreign employment, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne said. He was delivering the keynote address at the National Productivity Awards Ceremony at the BMICH yesterday.

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne receiving a special award for his five decades of active politics and service to the nation from Labour Relations and Productivity Promotion Minister Gamini Lokuge at the National Productivity Awards Ceremony held at the BMICH yesterday. Deputy Minister Jagath Balasuriya and Ministry Secretary Mahinda Madihahewa are also in the picture.

The Premier noted that Sri Lankans are leading among the world intellectuals and providing their service towards achieving landmarks for a better world.

“The contribution of a Sri Lankan could be seen in space exploration. We see that these intellectuals have no adequate technological and research facilities within the country to involve in such advanced research. In the health field we see a serious brain-drain situation. We have to adopt a suitable mechanism to change this process,” he said.

He pointed out that there is a rapid increase in foreign investment in the country and its support should be taken to achieve our targets speedily on development.

“The President’s hope is to move the country to a better position through socio-economic development. If we can improve the efficiency of our institutions the development process is easy. We can only face global economic recessions in the future world through improving our productivity. We have been able to maintain an economic growth of 7.5 percent. This percentage is about eight to nine in many other countries as well. If we adopt correct productivity policies the Millennium goals can be reached with a high economic growth,” he said.

The Prime Minister observed that compared to the conditions of many neighbouring countries, the life standard of the lower level of the society is considerably high in our country.

“General social status is high in Sri Lanka. It faces the rapid price-hikes of essential items in the world as a giant. Basic facilities in the country is improving. The State policy has contributed towards this positive note. We can enhance this process by using land, water and power efficiently,” he noted.