'Country gripped in unproductive cycle'

Katugastota group corr

There are only a handful of ministers who help earn foreign exchange and other funding for the country. A majority of ministries are engaged in spending those funds. There is a lot of wastage in state institutions. This includes wastage of water and electricity. Every citizen should strive hard to reduce wastage and increase country's productivity, said International Monetary Co-operation Senior Minister and Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama.

The minister expressed these sentiments addressing a Divi Neguma progress review meeting at the Galagedara Pradeshiya Sabha auditorium recently.

Dr Amunugama said in the past, rural women in particular had the habit of growing their own vegetables and spices and condiments for home use and preparing preserved food items like dried jak fruit in their own backyard.

"This habit had been neglected today. Items like dried jak fruit could even be found in foreign markets to earn foreign exchange. It would also be better to tap the kithul tree in one's home garden to make treacle and jaggery for home use than running to the market to buy imported sugar for consumption and become a diabetic victim," he said.

"We could easily overcome dependence on foreign countries if we increase local production. Our failure to fully tap our own local resources to the optimum benefit of the country was regrettable", he said.