Two-day debate on Rs. 1.6 trillion VoA opens: PM says support of all MPs vital to revive economy

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Opening the debate on the Rs. 1.6 trillion Vote on Account in Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that the support of the entire House was needed to revive Sri Lanka’s economy in line with its responsibility when it comes to finances.  

Prime Minister Rajapaksa said the President and the government had got on with the task of reviving the economy with a sound understanding on the country’s economic situation.   

“The House is bound by the responsibility. The President and the government has undertaken this task with a sound understanding of the economic situation. Therefore I request members of Parliament to support the government in line with it responsibility. The House is bound by the responsibility of nurturing the country’s economy,” the Prime Minister said.   

The Prime Minister stressed that the rupee has been made stable with the government’s policy of curtailing non essential imports. “It is the people of this country who will benefit from the curtailing of imports, “ he said.   He said the country had utilized s greater portion of its foreign reserves for imports. 

 
Mr Rajapaksa said the 160,000 graduates who would be absorbed into the state sector will be turned into a vibrant skilled task force. “We are a country that even imports kites and vesak lanterns,” the premier said.   
“The external debt services account to half of the current debt services. The government has decided to review the projects worth Rs 9 billion. Local contractors should have been contracted to carry out some of these projects while there are others which have no economic benefits. However we do not intend to stop the projects but we intend to promote investments instead of focusing on borrowings,” he added.  

• The President and the government has undertaken this task with a sound understanding of the economic situation