UNP-led coalition to establish 20 committees to oversee state institutions
The United National Front for Good governance (UNFGG) plans to establish 20 Oversight Committees in Parliament when it comes to power. “These will supervise the work of the government institutions and will keep a tab on public expenditure,” Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said delivering the keynote address at the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2015, organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.
Prime Minister at the Economic Summit.
He added that while ministers or deputy ministers won’t be appointed to head these committees, the committee heads will be selected from all the parties in parliament. According to him, the economic pain of the country needs to be shared equally among all sections of the country, and it mustn’t be burdened only on the broader masses.
He said that small scale investors will be given loan facilities up to Rs. 500,000, and they will be encouraged to invest in the Colombo Stock Exchange. “This will pave the way for a broad share-owning democracy. The government will bring in new legislation to create a level field for all private sector participants in the national economy,” he said, adding that a lower tax regime will be implemented across a broader tax net.
“The GSP+ now gives us access to the European market of 500 million people with concessional tariff. Today, we’re working to get the ban on fisheries products lifted.” He said: “We need to do what we need to do because we can’t afford to delay it any more. We have got to be willing to bite the bullet to make it. Our fate is not against us. Our mindset is. We have suffered enough. We need to shed pseudo-nationalistic rhetoric and create all freedoms that will create an open society. After we have collectively formulated the national policies, we can argue and debate on peripheral issues.”
Mr. Wickremesinghe noted that the theme of the Economic Summit fits in well with the economic programme of the government to be implemented in 60 months which will create a new country with a five point plan of the government ; building the economy, fighting corruption, ensuring freedoms, developing infrastructure and investment and developing education. “These are not mere promises. They are well thought out policy goals. The Ceylon Chamber has set its target of exports at US$ 50 billion. To achieve such ambitious targets, Sri Lanka needs to be looking outward. After elections, we will reach out to the US, India, China, Singapore, etc for economic agreements.”
He said that the ‘English for All’ programme will be implemented island-wide to expand English language skills among all citizens. “A voucher system will be introduced to provide grants and credit facilities to students engaged in higher education studying technical, vocational and degree courses. With a view to creating a strong middle class with higher income and broad-based ownership, we’ll convert state land permits issued to smallholder farmers into freehold land. We will transfer ownership of government flats to long-term tenants.”