Sri Lanka can’t continue as low income country: PM

Jan 08, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should take note of global economic conditions and its own shortcomings which will enable the island to become a high income nation in the region, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said. “Sri Lanka has a unique chance to go on a unique journey after the end of a decade’s long war,” Wickremesinghe told the Sri Lanka Economic Forum in Colombo. “We are now on a path to create an inclusive growth where all people, those who gave us a mandate and those who did not, would have a better life - Sri Lanka can’t continue as low income country,” he said.



“We have to charter a difficult course in the beginning but I have no doubt that we will be able to do this if we stick together.” The PM said that Sri Lanka will be developed into a global city placed between Dubai and Singapore where international trade and movement is concerned. “There is no major metropolis between Dubai and Singapore now.



” He also stressed the need for economical links between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu and other Indian states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra. “Sri Lanka is the first nation in South Asia to embrace open economy, first in Asia to go for free education and one of the first nations in the region to enjoy universal franchise,” “So it is time the country move forward from being a low income earning country.” “Sri Lanka did focus on agriculture in the past when it launched the Mahaweli Development but unfortunately it was not possible to go forward from there,” he added.