Govt. to make a special statement on country's financial situation

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that the government is prepared to make a special statement about the financial situation of the country within the next two days.He said the government will also reveal the manner in which world economic trends influenced Sri Lanka. Whatever the world financial situation is, the main responsibility would be to strengthen the country's economy he added. The Minister further said that the government is presently discussing these (situations) with economic experts and asking them to make proposals to be included in the government budget to be presented on November 20. They are prepared to include all sound proposals in the budget. According to the Government Information Department, the Minister made these observations at the press conference held after meeting CIMA President Mrs Myrian Maddem who called on him at the Finance Ministry yesterday. During the meeting Mrs Maddem congratulated Minister Karunanayake for being the first CIMA qualified Finance Minister in the world and wished him success in all his future endeavours. She said this was a great source of strength to Sri Lanka’s economic development process. Minister Karunanayake further pointed out that the bankrupt opposition parties were directing various false accusations against the government saying there were moves to privatise certain institutions. The Minister categorically stated that they had removed the word ‘privatisation’ from their vocabulary, and what they intend doing was to subject certain state institutions to proper management. It did not mean divesting state ownership. For instance the loss incurred by Sri Lankan airways amounted to Rs 132,000 million. They were now trying to correct this wrong. Similarly they were prepared to probe bribery and corruption in the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. The Minister added that certain opposition members presently talking about privatisation are those who tried to sell prime land in the country to foreigners in various ways during the previous regime. Mrs Maddem was accompanied by CIMA Executive Director Charles Tilley, Director Radley Stephen and CIMA Sri Lanka President Vipula Gunathilake.