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Country poised for rapid take-off in development in era of peace - Minister Bakeer Markar

by Puttalam group correspondent

The country is now poised for a rapid take-off in development along with the revival of its economy by ushering in an era of peace initiated by this government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Ministry of Mass Communication Imthiasz Bakeer Markar at a meeting held at Karuwalagaswewa in the Anamaduwa electorate.

This meeting concluded the series of events for the day on December 1 including the up-grading of the sub-post office and opening the new auto-telephone exchange at Karuwalagaswewa. The day was crammed with several other packages delivered in good faith by the Minister for the benefit of the people in the Anamaduwa electorate and included handing over of three tractors to three Pradeshiya Sabhas in the electorate, distribution of library books and other material to several public libraries managed by the Pradeshiya Sabhas, water pumps and other agricultural implements to Farmer Organizations, pre-school material and sports material to several pre-schools in the electorate.

These activities for the day commenced with the planting of a Jak tree in the Karuwalagaswewa Pradeshiya Sabha compound in token of the campaign of planting 35,000 jak trees in the area North of Deduru Oya, that is launched parallel to the National Jak Planting and Promotion Drive sponsored by Lake House.

The Minister said that it is left for the people themselves to think in retrospect and consider whether the people and the country have achieved anything of merit during this period of one year under this government.

They cannot, he said, fail to notice the big difference in the country today - that several previous governments during the last 20 long years took various measures from different angles to end the war but failed, that the measures adopted by this government during one year has at least silenced the guns, that there is peace both in the North and the South of the country at least temporarily, that there are no road blocks and security checks, no bomb explosions in streets. This alone is a tremendous achievement, he said.

He said that the economy of the country for the first time in its economic history, receded by 1.5% during the last year. Now, this government, by its efficient management of the economy through the far-sighted measures adopted by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has revamped it to grow up to 3.0% this year. The Ministry pointed out that foreign investors are now coming into the country owing to the peaceful atmosphere in the country. Tourist arrivals are on the increase.

The Rupee is now made stable against the Dollar. The National TV Corporation running at a loss in millions prior to this government is now earning a substantial profit. The Lake House was also in a similar plight running at a loss of Rupees 180 million a year. Now it is running at a profit without any lay-off of its workers. All these and much more, he reiterated, are achievements made by this government for the benefit of the country and its people over the long run and were certainly at a price.

This government, he said, is not prone to promises, patchwork or sheer magic in conducting its affairs entrusted by the people. Instead, this government is realistic and does not hesitate to call a spade a spade. Along with the next budget this government, he said, is determined to strengthen its economy further and fulfil several other important aspirations of the people.

Palitha Rangabandara MP said that he was able to inaugurate a number of development works in this electorate that will be meaningful to the people and among them are the several rural electrification projects worth several millions, the renovated irrigation projects in the electorate and also the programme of model village.

T. M. Sumanasena, Chairman, Karuwalagaswewa Pradeshiya Sabha, Upali Jayakody, Telecom. Chief NWP and J. D. C. Jayasinghe Deputy Post Master General NWP also spoke.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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