Economic and social restructure should go together: Jeevan

• All races must be protected. Their rights should be guaranteed
• Says the Central Bank must be independent if a healthy economy is to exist

Economic and social restructuring should go together, as both are interdependent of each other. Minister Jeevan Thondaman said yesterday.   

“Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic society.  All races must be protected. Their rights should be guaranteed. As the world moves forward, Sri Lanka should also follow this trend. We must determine as to why we have been backward,” the Minister said   

Gender equality should be ensured. There are 50 per cent female MPs in the United Arab Kingdom. In our country 52 per cent of the population are women. However, there is only 5 per cent female parliamentary representation in Sri Lanka. 

 Therefore, our party will give full support to the proposed private member’s motion to ensure equality for women, “ he added.   

“Those in the opposition were criticizing and said Sri Lanka would not get assistance from the International Monetary Fund. They said the fuel issue and the electricity issue would not be solved, the President has solved these problems. Therefore, we should not try to mislead people by spreading false ideas. Political decisions in the past have led to an economic crisis. The President has now rectified the wrong done in the past. There is discrimination of the hill country population when it comes to social welfare schemes such as Samurdhi. Even some officers were asking why Samurdi. But we believe that under the new system, the scheme will be carried out in a proper manner. The Central Bank must be independent if a healthy economy is to exist,” 
he added.