Exchange of Agricultural Information

* The other major problem facing the farmer is marketing. I intend to introduce the developments of Information Technology for the solution of this problem. I will empower all 550 Agrarian Service Centres spread throughout the island with IT for the purpose of broadening the exchange of information.

* I will set up a National Agricultural Information Exchange.

New Technology

* Sri Lankan agriculture will be diversified in conformity with the modern age by introducing new technology to agriculture and by providing encouragement to agriculturerelated products.

* The Post-Harvest Institute and the Export Development Board will be re-organized and strengthened with a view to assisting the agriculturist to access the export market and enter the business of value addition to his products.

* As a first step in adopting new technology, I will extend the drip irrigation system to the Dry Zone. Already 5,000 drip irrigation units have been distributed, and in the next three years, I will give a further 15000 of these units to the educated youth of the country.

* I will introduce a system of Central Farms for the benefit of the small farmer for the purpose of cultivating, processing and exporting quality food crops of high value, making use of modern technologies.

* In order to encourage growers of export crops, “Agricultural Export Zones” which have been introduced by us, will be extended to cover all parts of the country. By this means I will turn the local farmer into an export entrepreneur dealing directly with the international market without the help of any intermediaries.

Improving the cultivation of fruits and vegetables

* We have been successful in bringing about a conspicuous development in this field.

* In 2006- 2008 alone, 200,000 fruit plants of high quality were distributed among farmers. In the future, I will take steps to distribute 100,000 plants every year.

* I am aware that a large quantity of vegetables perish in the process of harvesting. I will take action to raise the income of cultivators by means of further improving the application of post harvest technology in relation to fruits and vegetables.

* I am also aware that fruits and vegetables are thrown away by farmers in situations of poor sales. To remedy this, situation I will establish two factories at Welimada and Nuwara Eliya for the production of vegetable oils. I will also provide inducements to the private sector to enter into this industry.

* I will take action to establish cold rooms where fruits and vegetables can be stored securely for a number of months. A programme capable of attracting the private sector into this field will also be implemented.

The Cultivation of subsidiary crops

At the time that I was elected to office, many plant foods such as corn, mung beans, cow pea, ulundu, sesamum, maize, chillies, onions and potatoes- all of which could be cultivated locally - were imported in large quantities.

As a result, local farmers who grew these crops were not able to sell their produce. Because we took steps to restrict their import, the farmers were able to obtain a good income for their produce. I will take further action to promote these kinds of crops.

* I will take steps to offer a guaranteed price for corn, just as we did for paddy, and to hold a buffer stock of this important cereal.

* Under the concept of “One village, One Crop”, cultivators will be trained in the technologies applicable to the relevant crop and Small Farmers’ Societies will be established to enable them to gain access to markets in foreign countries.

* I will take action to develop the cultivation of subsidiary crops including cashew, sesamum, ginger, betel, and sugar cane. Fertilizer also will be supplied to producers at subsidized rates.

The Milk Revolution: Power to the cattle farmer

While 30% of the island’s work force belongs to the field of agriculture and animal farming, foreign exchange to the tune of almost US dollars 300 million is spent to import milk and milk products to the country. One reason for this was the fact that in a particular era, state cattle farms were closed down and no incentives were offered to the local milk industry.

I will double the number of milch cows in the country from its present strength of 340,000 heads. With this end in view, steps will also be taken to increase the number of government cattle farms.

* Under the aegis of the National Livestock Development Board, I will take steps to set up a pool of 50,000 milch cows in plantations owned by state sector plantation companies.

* I will take steps to increase the production of animal feed.

For this purpose, cultivation of corn and grass for fodder will be increased. Milk farmer societies will be further encouraged and more services will be provided to farmers.

* In order to import the necessary numbers of livestock, I will remove all taxes currently levied on the importation of pure bred and cross bred milk cows, goats and sheep and on equipment used for the production of milk.

* The infrastructure for development of this industry will be developed in the newly liberated North and East. While incentives will be provided for the acquisition of livestock and the production of animal feed, a market for these products will also be provided. Priority will be given for breeding goats in these regions.

* I will take steps to introduce the latest technologies to the National Livestock Board, Milco, Ministry of Animal Production & Health and Livestock Research Institute, 88 thereby completely modernizing these institutions and improving the services provided by them.

* It is my belief that the social attitudes towards locally produced milk and fresh milk should undergo a drastic change as well. For this purpose, I will initiate a programme at the school level.

Wealth of the Seas for the country’s prosperity

As the Minister of Fisheries at the time, I initiated the process, which had been delayed for nearly four decades, to demarcate the area of the Continental Shelf that is the legacy of our country. As the President of our country, I was able to hand over the completed work to the United Nations Organization. The sea area that has been rightfully claimed by us is twenty three times the land extent of our country. I am very glad that it will be our children who are to benefit from these resources in the future.

In 2005, only one third of the sea area due to us was under our control. With the defeat of terrorism, Sri Lankans are now able to reap the benefits of the total sea area that the country is entitled to.

I will take steps to further strengthen and activate the programme put forward under the Mahinda Chintana to make maximum use of these ocean resources.

* The latest technologies will be introduced to maximize the fish harvest of our fishermen. I will take steps to build ten large scale cold rooms to preserve our fish, vegetable and fruit harvests.

* Steps will be taken to build multi-day fishing trawlers locally. Advanced technology and the help of the Navy will also be obtained for this purpose.

* A low interest loan scheme of not exceeding Rupees 10 million for building these multi-day trawlers will be introduced.

* The mother ship method for those engaged in the deep sea fishing industry will be introduced. Thereby, the catch from the deep sea could be brought ashore with the least delay via the mother ship that will provide the necessary fuel and food for fishing vessels.

* During the next few months, when harvesting of resources in the northern and eastern seas will be more speedily carried out, the fisheries industry and other related industries will be given a new lease of life.

* Hence, in order not to let these additional fish harvests go waste, salted fish (jaadi) and dried fish industries will be developed and local and overseas markets for these products broadened.

* In order to reap the maximum benefits of the fish harvests of our fisher folk, in addition to direct consumption, the fish canning industry also needs to be developed. To encourage local investors, I will grant them tax concessions for the importation of production equipment. In particular, two fish canning factories will be set up in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

* Going beyond the current practice of harvesting only, I will obtain the assistance of universities and other institutions to reap the maximum benefit of other ocean resources too. For the exploration of resources, advanced information technology and communication technologies will be used.

* I will continue to grant the fuel concession to small scale fishermen.

New Awakening in the Plantation Sector

It was during last four years that a new awakening was seen in the tea, rubber and coconut and related industries.

The introduction of legislation to prevent fragmentation of coconut plantations also helped to revitalize the coconut industry which had been pushed to the brink of destruction.

Interest was generated in the country for cinnamon and related value added industries, pepper industry and minor export crops as well. As mentioned in the Mahinda Chintana, I was able to encourage local businessmen engaged in the cultivation of these crops to add value to their produce and export. By increasing the productivity of tea small holders, we were able to make them a vital force in the plantation sector. I propose to further continue along this path.

* By increasing blending and packaging of tea locally, I propose to make Sri Lanka a hub for the tea trade.

* I will provide incentives for popularizing instant tea.

* In order to increase productivity, I will take steps to introduce improved cultivation strains of tea, rubber, coconuts and other export crops.

* Incentives will be given for growing and processing coffee, pepper and other non-traditional cash crops.

* Support schemes will be introduced for all export crops.

* A programme will be set up for research and development activities in the cinnamon plantation sector. Steps will be taken to overcome the shortage of labour in this sector by providing necessary training. State patronage will be provided for this industry.

* I will take steps to provide at minimum cost locally produced state of the art technical implements for postharvest processing.

* The fertiliser support scheme for all cash crops will be further extended.

* By increasing the productivity of plantation companies leased out to the private sector, continued employment and better remuneration for workers will be ensured. These companies will be directed to long term environmentallyfriendly investments in order to conserve the bio diversity and water resources.

Moving on, even more resolutely

The methodology used for development of industries from the 60’s onwards was based on state sector investments. Under this programme, large scale developments were initiated in the local industrial sector.

With the implementation of open economic policies from 1977 onwards, an effort was made to develop industries with private sector investments only. As a consequence, the resurgence of local industries was subdued and foreign investors started capturing the local economy.

When I assumed office in 2005, industrialization in our country was in a confused state. Hence, instead of unsolicited foreign industrialization, I took the necessary steps to uplift local industries.

It gives me immense pleasure that, as a result, there are already a few large scale industrialists who have emerged in the country as having reached the international level. I shall devote myself to further uplift and strengthen such industrialists, while also moving forward with a programme to uplift 200 more industrialists in the future.

Incentives for the entrepreneurial forward march

* With immediate effect, I will start an institutional and legal framework to coordinate the activities of the Board of Investment, Urban Development Authority, Tourism Authority, Export Development Board, Environmental Authority and the Mahaveli Authority. With this initiative, I will immediately launch a programme to minimize delays and time consuming procedures related to the starting of investments.

* As a result, we will give the final government decision on any investment proposal within three months. As the facilitator of projects, this institution will be vested with powers to resolve all legal and practical problems that arise relating to these projects.

* I will set up an export import bank with a capital of Rupees 25 billion. Through this Bank, I will provide facilities for local entrepreneurs who strive to capture international markets.

* Steps will be taken to identify the problems faced by tax payers of our country and immediately put in place, a formal process to resolve these problems and complexities.

Consequently, with the next budget, I will take steps to simplify the existing tax system and reduce personal income tax rates, value added tax rates, and excise duty rates.

* A centre for technology strategies will also be set up to harness all streams of knowledge including information technology, nano technology and digital technology.

* By way of relief for certain local business sectors affected by the world economic recession, I will stay, for a period of two years, the auctioning of mortgaged immovable and movable assets. I will grant tax concessions for banks to set off losses incurred as a result of this proposal.

* I will set up an ‘Industry Revival Fund’ to develop and resurrect factories and rice mills that closed due to the effects of the world economic recession, by writing off loans and granting new loans. I will also issue the necessary refinancing facilities through the Central Bank to encourage banks and financial institutions to implement this programme.

* Further to the steps already taken to strengthen and broaden the ‘Cooperative Sector’ parallel to the ‘State Sector’ and the ‘Private Sector’, I will develop the cooperative sector by improving its financial viability, professionalism and management skills. In future development processes, these three sectors will act together as equals.

* I will introduce a new work ethic under the theme ‘Mawbima Dinawamu’. I will thereby increase workplace efficiency and productivity by 50% during the next six years.

* A task force will be set up consisting of veteran intellectuals to facilitate growth of the industrial sector.

Tourism Industry

* I will introduce an accelerated development programme for the tourism industry. I will launch a programme to fulfill the infrastructure and other requirements in order to attract 2.5 million tourists annually, by the year 2016.

* A financial scheme for medium scale entrepreneurs to obtain loans up to Rs.100 million in relation to the tourist industry will be implemented.

* I will invite prestigious hoteliers to open two seven star hotels.

* Support will be extended to the private sector to develop 50,000 hotel rooms under the guidance of the BOI.

* I will provide the necessary facilities to local suppliers to manufacture equipment needed for the hotel trade. I will provide assistance and opportunities to residents of popular tourist destinations to start small comfortable houses for tourists at reasonable rates.

* Support will be provided to the local entrepreneurs of main tourist areas to construct Aurvedic Centres which could accommodate around 200 patients.

* I will give priority to eco-friendly tourism and agriculture based tourism and will promote the use of the government and private owned farms for this purpose.

* All Buddhist places of worship will be developed in order to increase religious tourism from countries such as Japan and Thailand. I will establish a tourism centre with special cultural importance to Asia.

Apparel industry

* New markets for the apparel industry will be promoted and through such effort, I will provide the needed support to double apparel exports by 2016.

* I will extend my fullest support to designers of high quality ready made garments using their 30 years of specialization in this field.

* Two modern trade centres will be opened in Colombo and Katunayake for high end tourists.

Resurgence of the local construction industry

The construction industry can be identified as an industry which has achieved a significant development during the recent past.

As we all know, the tourism industry is gaining a new life due to the end of the conflict. Accordingly, a new era will dawn on the local construction industry with the planned construction of nearly 44,000 hotel rooms, the re-construction of all inter-regional highways, and the construction of the planned 600,000 new houses.

* I will provide a 15 % protection for all local construction companies to support them against the adverse effects from foreign competition, in relation to government construction contracts.

* All indirect taxes which adversely affect this industry will be simplified and a low tax rate will be introduced.

* In order to assist the local construction companies, I will establish a specialized bank.

Timber and furniture manufacturing industry

* Steps will be taken to deal with the problems faced by timber and furniture manufacturers, including the transportion of timber and timber products, technology improvements, and challenges faced due to substitutes and market conditions, by formalizing relevant rules and regulations.

Gems & jewellery industry

* A complete assessment of the issues faced by those engaged in the gem and jewellery industry, including the problems arising in the purchase of gold bullion will be carried out, and action taken to solve those problems.

Other industries

* 25 new local food factories based on rice, fruits and vegetables to fulfil 75% of the local requirement will be 96 constructed, in order to earn an export income of around one hundred billion rupees by 2016.

* 25,000 acres of unused land will be provided for sugar cane cultivation in order to commence two new sugar factories, thereby taking the necessary steps to manufacture 75% of the country’s sugar requirement.

* All necessary steps will be taken to develop the two cement factories in Kankasanthurai and Trincomalee in order to fulfil 75% of the local requirement.

* Several chemical factories will be established in various areas including Paranthan.

* The salt industry will be developed while every assistance will be provided to develop related chemical industries as well.

Small and medium scale entrepreneurs

It is only by safeguarding and encouraging our budding entrepreneurs to progress, that we can achieve satisfactory results.

Therefore, I will take the necessary steps to provide all facilities to the local small and medium scale entrepreneurs.

* A process will be implemented from 2010 onwards, to upgrade 5,000 small scale entrepreneurs to medium scale level and to upgrade 200 medium scale entrepreneurs to large scale level every year.

* Loans under subsidized interest rates will be provided to small and medium scale entrepreneurs up to a sum of Rs.10 million.

* A program will be launched to establish entrepreneurial centres in every district to encourage small and medium scale entrepreneurs.

* 100 new trade centres will constructed within two years on a provincial basis to conveniently market their manufactured goods.

* Handicraft villages will be established to safeguard the industries of handicraftsmen.

* A method will created for skills exchange among handicraftsmen.

* The future of suppliers of self services will be secured by introducing an insurance scheme.

A Helping hand for the self reliant

* I am aware that a large number of people build their lives through hard work. These people should be supported in such a way that they will not have to always be thinking of the daily life with no assuring thought for the future. I will create the necessary environment to relieve these persons from that anxiety.

* A ‘Bureau for the Self employed’ will be started in order to ensure the livelihood security and to provide the other necessary services to the small scale vendors, itinerant vendors, people engaged in other services and the self employed.

* A banking system will introduced which will provide daily lending and recovery on a low monthly interest rate instead of the very high daily interest rate system as prevalent now.

* Special economic centres will be established for marketing the products of self employed in all highly populated cities.

Reawakening of the performing arts

[Art and Culture]

A person with high sense of art and culture will see the world with a serene mind.

The art and culture in a country should be able to reflect its past glory as well as focus on the future of the society.

Many in our country may have feared that our country’s culture and arts would have been damaged by the speedy amalgamation with global cultures and values.

However, what happened was that our local culture was strengthened as a result of the challenge. As the leader of a country which could boast of an extensive culture, I will firmly commit myself for the protection and sustainability of our arts and culture.

To achieve the goal of a quility cultural life as per the Mahinda Chintana, I will establish a National Cultural Regulatory Board, and will appoint experts in the field, to such Board.

* A “National Cultural Policy” will be prepared to improve and maintain the standards of each field of art.

* A programme will be prepared to encourage the local and traditional art skills in order reach the international level

* A separate authority will be established for young creative persons.

* A life insurance scheme and a health insurance scheme will be established for all artists, together with a contributory pension scheme.

* Training institutions will be established at provincial level to provide training and knowledge in respect of performing arts, teledramas and cinema.

* A Aprogramme will be established to make presentations and monetary gifts for creations which win awards and rewards at recognized international award ceremonies

* In order to popularize reading amongst society, a special program Titled the National Books Publication Programme, will be recommenced whereby the government will assist in the publication of quality literature and subject related books, and print such books.

* A program will be started to provide the necessary assistance to the local institutions and religious places that promote the protection of our heritage and culture.

Access to Modern Media

The developments in modern communication has strongly influenced contemporary media. The collection of information and the dissemination of such information has been accelerated through technological systems, such as the internet and satellite technology.

There were no impediments for any media institution or journalist to obtain the benefit of such developments in Sri Lanka, and this is evidenced by the fact that licenses have been issued to political parties, as well as religious or linguistic organizations who had applied for such licenses. Further, although some criticism has been levelled against the government, regulations controlling the media had never been issued, as has been the case with previous governments.

My belief is that the media should act for the country’s benefit, development, nationality and social ethics, rather than for purely political purposes. My policy therefore, will be to strengthen all journalists through education and experience in order to develop more ethical journalism practices in our country.

* I will operationalize a mechanism which gives priority to produce accurate information and portray a true picture of the country to the rest of the world and thereby uplift the reputation of the country, instead of the current practice of 100 certain media institutions which strive to tarnish the image of the country by portraying Sri Lanka as a state with an unsatisfactory track record.

* I will facilitate the formation of a mechanism to obtain the views and suggestions of journalists, and to obtain information and knowledge frequently on domestic and foreign developments to be used for national development.

* I will establish a Higher Education Centre on National Media in order to improve the knowledge and technological capabilities of journalists.

* A system will be formulated to provide scholarships under the President’s Fund to improve the knowledge and experience of media personnel.

* Tariff concessions will be provided to acquire a camera, a computer and a motor cycle by professional journalists, who have professional training and experience of not less than 15 years. They will also be permitted to import a motor vehicle under concessionary tariff concessions.

* I will start a new housing scheme for journalists located in close proximity to Colombo.

* A pension scheme for journalists will be implemented, commencing this year.

People return, rather than migrate Sri Lankans living abroad support their Motherland The history of Sri Lankans migrating from the country dates back to the colonial era. Being conscious of the benefits that could be gained through the involvement in activities with the British, many Sri Lankans sent their children to England to receive higher 101 education and enter into the British administration. Thereafter, migration became a fad and a fashion for some members of our affluent societies.

With the commencement of large scale terrorist activities in the North and East, this rather fashionable migration gave way to greater numbers migrating, for other reasons too.

Such migration was converted into a large exodus of people from Sri Lanka as a result of the “Black July” of 1983, which led to a large number of Tamil persons fleeing the country. This was followed by the terror filled period led by the JVP during 1987-89 which also resulted in a large number of people leaving our motherland. The number of people who did not return to the country out of those who left the country due to these protracted conflicts during the last 30 years, and the numbers of children of previous generations who left the country and did not return, is now estimated to be about 2 million.

Fortunately however, many Sri Lankan migrants now function as experts and intellectuals and serve in different fields, ranging from township development to space exploration. It is my view that the time is now ripe for them to return and serve their Motherland. In a similar manner, many countries in the world, including China and India, have extensively benefited by the services of their native intellectuals who lived abroad but came back to provide support and advise to the nation at critical periods of their history.

Therefore, I invite all who have left our shores in search of greener pastures, to return to Sri Lanka and serve our Motherland at this point of time in our history.

* I will establish a dedicated bureau in order to identify and resolve problems faced by Sri Lankans living abroad and create a conducive environment in Sri Lanka for them to live, upon their return to Sri Lanka.

* A license will be provided to persons who have lived more than five years abroad and who have remitted money to local banks, to either import the car that was used by them or to import a vehicle under concessionary duty terms.

* The fee applicable for Sri Lankans who have already obtained citizenship in their respective countries when applying for citizenship in Sri Lanka again, will be reduced by 50 per cent.

* I will relax and expedite the complex processes that our people have to face when obtaining passports and other essential documents.

* The Central Bank will be requested to prepare a mechanism to create an attractive bonus scheme for Sri Lankans who send their foreign exchange to Sri Lanka.

concluded