President at meeting with People’s Bank new recruits:

Lanka’s economy proving resilient

*80,000 recruits to state sector since 2005

*Baseless rumours spread against country

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

‘Sri Lanka’s economy was not affected by the world economic downturn since the government has implemented timely and adequate measures during the global economic crisis which hampered economies of many countries, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The President was addressing newly recruited management trainees for the People’s Bank at a ceremony at Temple Trees yesterday.

“Similar to the country’s economy, the Sri Lankan banking sector has come forward to serve the nation, fulfilling the people’s aspirations despite the global economic crisis which engulfed the whole world a few years ago,” President Rajapaksa said.

People’s Bank recruited 227 highly qualified graduates as management trainees in line with the 2011 budget proposals submitted in Parliament in November 2010 by President Rajapaksa as the Finance Minister. According to the budget proposals, 1,500 qualified graduates were to be recruited to state banks aiming to take these banks to great heights.

‘Accordingly, the People’s Bank recruited 227 young graduates who got through a competitive examination conducted by the Examinations Department as management trainees. The Bank of Ceylon will also recruit a considerable number of qualified individuals in due course as management trainees, the President added.

The President said that the government has rectified the former recruiting system by introducing a proper mechanism for recruiting officials for state services.

”Under this mechanism, a clear selection process is being implemented and therefore only suitable individuals are selected into the state sector. After 2005, the government has recruited more than 80,000 individuals including 40,000 graduates. In due course another 15,000 will be recruited to the state sector,” he said.

The government has allocated considerable funds for infrastructure development activities. Several power plants are being constructed aiming to provide electricity to every household. Roads are being carpeted throughout the country,” President Rajapaksa said.

“As everyone is aware, gravel roads have been converted into tar-roads while most of the tar-roads have become carpet roads. The government considers, infrastructure development is vital for the development of the country.

However, some elements with a narrow vision request international financial institutes such as the World Bank, IMF etc not to assist Sri Lanka financially,” he said.

The President added that certain forces were spreading baseless rumours against the country. “They talk about war crimes, freedom of speech and human rights. But Sri Lanka is the only country which resettled nearly 290,000 IDPs within a two year period. Only 10,000 IDPs are left to be resettled.”

Addressing the trainees, People’s Bank chairman W Karunajeewa said that the People’s Bank is a landmark financial institute which has national significance.

Since its establishment on July 01, 1961, People’s Bank has been in the forefront of the banking sector.

The People’s Bank was established under the guidance of then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and by several ministers including T B Illangarathne, Philip Gunawardena aiming to provide people with a friendly financial service,” he said.

“The People’s Bank has the largest banking network accounting for 686 bank branches throughout the country. It has won the hearts of 12 million customers.

Equipped with the state-of -art technology, yet preserving a true sense of Sri Lankan identity, the bank will continue its services to the people of the country with the same level of dedication,” Karunajeewa said.