14 September 2024 12:00 am Views - 18
By Yohan Perera
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate Sajith Premadasa has pledged to set up a Silicon Valley-style IT development in Colombo and to follow the examples of former Indian Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu and former Chief Minister of Karnataka S. M. Krishna in producing quality software professionals.
“We shall set up IT parks in all constituencies in the Colombo District and thereby turn Colombo into another Silicon Valley,” Mr. Premadasa told a rally in Thalawathugoda.
“Most of the software engineers who are working in Silicon Valley are Indians. This is a result of hard work put in by former Indian Chief Ministers S. M. Krishna and Chandrababu Naidu who had created an IT revolution in India.
We also intend to follow their policies and turn Colombo into a knowledge hub,” he said.
“A new revenue-earning middle class has emerged in India following the development in the IT sector. Sri Lanka should also follow through,” he added.
Mr. Premadasa also pledged to narrow the gap between the schools in all areas of the country. “You get a number of elite schools in Colombo, including international schools. These schools possess modern facilities while some other schools are left with basic facilities. We will narrow this gap and see that underprivileged schools will also get modern facilities,” he said.
“We shall reform the education system in this country, no matter who goes against it,” he stressed.
Also, Mr. Premadasa reiterated his plea to provide a new financial package to all poor families. “Which shall provide a monthly financial package for each poor family for two years. This poverty alleviation programme of ours is based on saving, consumption and investment.