Face developing world - By changing SL’s political & economic outlook: PM

Sri Lanka’s political, social and economic outlook should be changed if the country hopes to face a developing world, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday at a ceremony held to distribute appointment letters to graduates in the state sector.

“No one knows what the countries the world over including Sri Lanka will become in 30 years. Technology is undergoing rapid changes, desktop computers may not exist in 30 years although such machines were unheard of 30 years ago. In a fast-changing world it is important to prepare Sri Lanka to face the future,” the Prime Minister said.

“Sri Lanka can no longer compete with countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam when it comes to the apparel sector. Therefore we need to look at other sectors such as information technology.”

He stressed the need for state sector workers to face up to the changes in an emerging world and pointed out that Sri Lanka had gone backwards as far as the economy was concerned.

“We have seen Singaporeans working in the Colombo Port but we do not see that happening now. Countries such as Singapore have developed while Sri Lanka is caught up in a debt trap,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the stage was being set for Sri Lanka to develop and this opportunity should be fully made use of.

Public Administration, Rural Economy and Disaster Management Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said public servants should work towards creating a brighter tomorrow for the country and pointed out that the present government increased the salaries of public servants.

Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardene said those who received appointment letters should remember that they are bound to implement government policy under the Establishment Code. State Minister Niroshan Perera said public servants should make an effort to resolve the problems faced by the people instead of harassing them when they visit State institutions. (Yohan Perera)