Finance Minister K N Choksy made the strongest statement yet that the government is committed to a strong rupee policy.
ldblquote Sri Lankans have accepted with complacency and resignation the concept of a weak rupee prevailing indefinitely dblquote , Minister Choksy said, during the round up of recent economic developments presented shortly before the budget proposals.rn
rnldblquote We have shaken this complacency by achieving for our currency an enhanced value and the dignity that goes with it, dblquote he told legislators on Wednesday.rn
rnThe finance minister clearly suffering from a bad cold, made issued an indirect warning to the export sector not to depend on depreciation for future growth.rn
rnldblquote We mist deploy it in furthering the interests of our people as a whole, rather than moving to protect sectoral interests dblquote Minister Choksy said.rn
rnldblquote Whilst I appreciate the need to protect certain sectors, particularly the export sector'85I see in this development an o