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We will find solutions to the economic malaise affecting all sectors, says Gota
View(s):The country is currently facing its most severe economic crisis since the war, Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa said this week.
It's time for selfies and book signing: Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Colombo Book Fair on Friday. Pic by Ranjith Perera
Addressing a gathering of the business community at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre on Thursday, Mr Rajapaksa stated that Sri Lanka currently has the lowest rate of economic growth in South Asia.
As a result of the Easter attacks the tourism industry has collapsed and those who are engaged in tourism are going to lose their jobs, he pointed out, adding that as a consequence of the currency depreciation, importing of vehicles has also stopped.
He added that large scale development projects undertaken by the previous Government were at a standstill as the current Government had no money to pay the contractors.
“This economic malaise affects every sector,” he noted, adding that the situation is likely to worsen in the coming months. “We will form a responsible Government after the next Presidential Election and will provide solutions to these issues. We have already formulated a programme for this,” he added.
“Asia has now become the centre of the world’s economy. This has created vast opportunities for us. The former Government built more roads, highways and air ports with the idea of turning Sri Lanka into a regional economic hub. However, this Government did not pursue these objectives and we lost that opportunity. It is the responsibility of the Government to create investment opportunities. This will enable businesspersons to make full use of them, ” Mr Rajapaksa remarked.
Mr Rajapaksa also described terrorism as one of the biggest threats to the economy. “Under our Government we will make this country secure again. The business community is facing difficulties not just from terrorists but from underworld members demanding ransoms. We will give priority to eradicating these threats and creating a free and secure country.”
Addressing the gathering, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said when his Government was governing the country, the value of the US dollar was Rs. 131. It has now increased to Rs.181, he noted.
“For the past 10 years, we only paid an extra amount of 26 rupees per US dollar. We are paying 51 rupees per US dollar under Yahapalanaya.”
The former President said they are fielding Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the Presidential candidate as he had already proved himself to be an individual who can get results and who has a clear vision for the development of the country.