Foreign influences on SL driven by misinformation -Defence
Secretary
Disna Mudalige
Inimical foreign influences are inevitable for any country with a
leadership that loves the country and thinks locally, Defence and Urban
Development Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.
Speaking at the Entrepreneurship Management Certificate Course
certificate awarding ceremony in Colombo organized by the National
Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and Colombo University Human Resources
Advancement Institute (HRAI) yesterday, the Secretary said President
Mahinda Rajapaksa provides the leadership for the forward march of the
country, while facing each and every challenge directed at him with
fortitude. He observed most of these foreign influences upon Sri Lanka
are driven by misinformation. He said the decisions based on misleading
information and incorrect facts are most often the main reason for the
problems which the international community creates for Sri Lanka.
He observed in the present global context, oil and geographical
location attract attempts by external forces to destabilize the country,
adding that Sri Lanka is vulnerable to such attempts due to its
strategically important location in the world map.
He noted the country still imports many products which could have
easily been produced locally, aiding self sufficiency. He cited tamarind
as one such product, adding that the country spends colossal amounts of
foreign exchange for this kind of import. He noted the necessary
environment to develop local enterprises has been created by the
government after the dawn of peace, stating small and medium scale
entrepreneurs should make the maximum use of this opportunity.
He said the government has been keen on reversing the brain drain by
creating more facilities and necessary conditions for the educated and
talented people to remain in the country. Appreciating the course
content of the Entrepreneurship Management Certificate Course, the
secretary noted the contribution of small and medium scale enterprises
are critical for economic prosperity.
NCC Chairman Asoka Hettigoda, Colombo University HRAI Director Dr
Rohan P. Perera and NCC Secretary Sujeewa Samaraweera also spoke. Thirty
three students who completed the course successfully were awarded
certificates on the occasion. |