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Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - 6.05 GMT |
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Support assured
to all exporters if GSP+ removal strategy
succeeds - President |
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In view
of the
current
threat
of
withdrawal
of GSP+
concession
of the
EU,
which is
seen as
another
pre-planned
attempt
to
obstruct
Sri
Lanka's
progress,
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
yesterday
gave a
firm
assurance
to all
local
export
industries
that the
government
will
safeguard
their
industries
with
measures
necessary
to
support
them, in
the
event of
a
carefully
managed,
strategic
withdrawal
of this
scheme,
being
introduced
by the
relevant
authorities
at this
sensitive
time.
President
Rajapaksa
said so
in his
address
at the
ceremonial
induction
of the
29th
President
of the
Organisation
of
Professional
Associations
(OPA)
held at
BMICH
yesterday
(December
21).
President
also
said:
"while
we are
concentrating
on the
development
effort,
we must
also be
intensely
mindful
about
preserving
democracy
in our
country.
Democracy
is the
corner
stone on
which
our
political
structures
are
built.
We
cannot
risk our
democratic
way of
life.
World
history
is
filled
with
many
instances
where
ambitious
persons
who have
not been
brought
up in a
democratic
framework,
assuming
power
and then
suspending
democratic
institutions
in
various
countries.
I am
certain
that the
professionals
and
right
thinking
persons
of our
country
are well
aware of
such
risks,
and that
they
would
act in
the
manner
necessary
to
preserve
and
carefully
sustain
democracy
for our
future
generations."
President
also
said in
his
second
term as
President,
he will
ensure
that
every
youth
who
completes
his
secondary
education
will be
assured
of a
livelihood.
"We will
develop
a scheme
that
will
entitle
our
youth to
specialized
education
of one’s
choice
when
they
turn 18.
Such
education
will be
supported
by my
new
Government,"
he said.
Here are
some
highlights
of
future
policy
announced
by the
President.
- bonus
interest
of 20%
on
deposits
of
senior
citizens
- bring
poverty
levels
down to
below 2%
- 100%
electricity
coverage
by 2016
Here
is the
full
text of
the
speech
by
President
Rajapaksa:
Newly
elected
President
of the
Organisation
of
Professional
Associations
of Sri
Lanka,
Professor
Indraratne,
Hon
Ministers,
Members
of
Parliament,
Your
Excellencies,
and
My dear
friends.
Let me
begin by
thanking
the OPA
for
inviting
me to
the
Induction
Ceremony
of the
Twenty
Ninth
(29th)
President
of the
OPA,
Professor
Indraratne.
Professor
Indraratne
is a
well
known
Professor
of
Economics
in our
country
and is
held in
high
esteem
by both
the
Government
and the
private
sector.
He
serves
in the
National
Economic
Council
and has
been a
valuable
asset to
our
country.
At the
outset
therefore,
I wish
to
congratulate
Professor
Indraratne,
the
eminent
Vice
Presidents,
and the
other
distinguished
office
bearers
of this
important
institution
and wish
them
success
in the
year
ahead.
Professor
Indraratne,
My
Government
and I
look
forward
to
working
with you
and your
colleagues
closely
over the
next few
years,
as I
have
already
done in
the
past,
and I am
certain
that our
country
would
benefit
by your
members’
professional
advice
and
contribution.
As you
all
know,
the past
4 years
have
been
immensely
challenging
for our
country.
In
particular,
the last
2 years
have
been
very
difficult.
But yet,
when
compared
to many
other
countries,
Sri
Lanka
was able
to do
better
than
most
others.
When
other
economies
collapsed,
ours
progressed.
When
businesses
in many
developed
countries
closed
down,
ours
survived.
When
workers
in their
millions
lost
jobs in
many
other
nations,
our
workforce
retained
their
livelihood.
When
other
governments
pumped
billions
of
dollars
to
stabilize
their
financial
systems,
we
stabilized
ours
without
such
efforts.
When
other
countries
delayed
or
defaulted
on their
re-payments,
as a
result
of high
world
oil
prices,
we were
able to
negotiate
long
term
credit
lines
from
Iran and
face the
crisis.
When
currencies
of many
countries
depreciated
sharply,
the Sri
Lanka
rupee
held its
value.
When
hundreds
of banks
failed
across
the
globe,
we
protected
the
banks in
Sri
Lanka.
When
food
riots
took
place in
many
societies,
we
enjoyed
food
security
in our
country
by
strengthening
our
farmers,
who are
an
important
segment
of our
economy.
It is
however
very sad
that one
or two
economists
who are
advising
the
Opposition
are
referring
to our
farmers
as
“Amude
jokers”
and are
ridiculing
them. I
hope
these
people
who
comment
in this
arrogant
and
insensitive
manner
will
some day
realize
that it
was
these
hard-working
farmers
who kept
all of
us fed
during
the
global
food
crisis.
My dear
friends,
the
successes
I
described
did not
happen
by
accident.
These
positive
outcomes
were
achieved
because
of the
wise and
sound
manner
in which
we
managed
our
economy
and our
country.
Towards
that
effort,
many
thousands
actively
helped
us, and
I would
like to
thank
all who
made
these
victories
possible.
Mr.
Chairman,
as a
member
of the
legal
profession,
I am
also a
member
of the
OPA.
Therefore,
I know
the
value of
professionals.
That is
why, in
almost
every
type of
activity
in my
government,
I
selected
people
with
professional
knowledge
and
ability,
to
implement
programs
and
plans,
in order
to
achieve
the
objectives
of our
nation.
We also
respected
professionals
who put
the
country’s
interests
before
their
own.
Mr.
Chairman,
it takes
many
types of
knowledge,
skills
and
talents
to
operate
a
results-oriented
administration.
Some
persons
in the
team
have to
be far
thinking
experienced
politicians.
Others,
effective
administrators.
Some
have to
be
clever
planners.
Others
have to
be smart
implementers.
Some
have to
be
out-going
personalities.
Others
have to
be
behind-
the-scene
advisors.
Some
have to
be tough
fighters.
Others
have to
be
patient
diplomats.
If we
make
mistakes
in
selecting
the
team, or
mix up
the
skills
that are
required,
the
entire
administration
could
collapse.
My dear
friends,
I think
I made
sound
judgments
in
selecting
persons
to serve
in my
administration.
That is
why we
were
successful.
We had
the
right
man for
every
job,
depending
on the
circumstances.
If, by
some
chance,
I did
not get
it right
and I
stationed
an
articulate
diplomat
where a
quick
acting
implementer
was
needed,
or
appointed
a crafty
and
fierce
military
man
where an
astute
and
sedate
politician
was
needed,
the
entire
country,
would
have
been
plunged
into
crisis.
I must
of
course
admit,
that I
have
made one
or two
mistakes
in my
selection
as well.
Some
persons
whom I
thought
were
patriotic,
have
subsequently
betrayed
our
beloved
motherland
for
personal
and
material
gain,
and I
have
been
very sad
about
that
situation.
But, by
and
large,
the vast
majority
of my
administration
staff
members
have
displayed
a great
love for
our
country,
and I am
deeply
touched
by their
patriotism.
Mr.
Chairman,
when I
took
office
as
President
in
November
2005,
almost
everyone,
including
a few
foreign
politicians,
told me
that we
will not
be able
to
defeat
terrorism
in our
country.
At that
time,
the
country
had been
divided
by an
illegal
agreement.
Our
forces
were
confined
to
barracks.
No money
was
allocated
to
up-grade
our
defence
establishment.
The mood
of the
nation
was that
of
dejection
and
despair.
We were
told
that we
have no
capacity
or money
to
fight;
we have
no
resources
to
develop;
we have
no money
to
support
our
public
service
or
development
activities.
The
negative
list was
endless.
But,
within a
few
months,
we
changed
all
that.
We built
our
capacity
and
intelligence
to fight
the
terrorist
enemy on
land,
sea and
air. We
developed
our
legal
capabilities.
We
gathered
support
for our
anti-terrorism
effort
from
within
the
country,
especially,
the
clergy,
trade
unions,
and
civil
society.
We had
regular
interactions
with the
media
and won
their
commitment
towards
our
cause.
We
quietly
and
seriously
engaged
with
world
leaders
and
opinion
makers.
When we
started
our
diplomatic
efforts,
many
world
leaders
and
opinion
makers
had
already
been
systematically
fed
untrue
stories
about
human
rights
abuses
and
suppression
of media
by
hundreds
of
terrorist
sympathizers,
and
their
well
paid
promoters.
In
response,
we had
to
embark
on a
massive
campaign
to
convince
our
neighbours
and
others
of our
stance,
and the
successes
we
achieved
in this
regard
were
vital in
our
fight
against
terror.
We
strengthened
our
medical
capabilities
and
welfare
facilities
to look
after
our
fallen
heroes.
We set
up
special
funds
and
welfare
centres
to
assist
those
who were
disabled
as a
result
of the
conflict.
We
boosted
the
morale
of our
fighting
forces
as well
as the
confidence
levels
of all
our
citizens.
While
undertaking
all
these
activities,
we had
to
strongly
resist
and
overcome
the
sinister
efforts
of
various
parties,
both
national
and
international,
who
tried to
destabilize
our
country,
politically,
socially
and
economically.
In this
regard,
you may
recall
the
attempts
of the
Opposition
parties
to block
our
sovereign
bond
issue,
our IMF
Stand-by
loan
facility,
both of
which,
we were
able to
defeat.
The
latest
is the
threat
of
withdrawal
of the
GSP plus
concession
of the
EU,
which we
see as
yet
another
of those
pre-planned
efforts.
In this
regard,
I wish
to
firmly
assure
all
local
export
industries
that my
Government
will
safeguard
their
industries
with the
measures
necessary
to
support
them, in
the
event of
a
carefully
managed,
strategic
withdrawal
of this
scheme,
being
introduced
by the
relevant
authorities
at this
sensitive
time.
Mr.
Chairman,
the
massive
development
activities
that we
implemented
in all
parts of
the
country
over the
past 4
years,
also
needs to
be
mentioned.
We are
building
3 major
power
plants
in
Norochcholai,
Kerawalapitiya
and
Upper
Kothmale.
Kerawalapitiya
is
already
supplying
power to
the
national
grid. We
are
undertaking
massive
port
constructions
in
Hambantota,
South
Colombo,
Galle,
KKS and
Oluvil.
We are
building
a new
international
airport
in
Mattala.
Flyovers,
Highways
and
Roads
are
being
constructed
everywhere.
New
water
supply
schemes,
tank
restoration
works
and
fisheries
harbours
are
being
built in
all
parts of
the
country.
While we
are
doing
all
this, we
have
continued
to
support
the
schemes
for the
upliftment
of the
poor as
well.
We did
not
reduce,
and in
fact, we
actually
increased,
the
allocations
for the
Samurdhi
programme.
We
continued
to
ensure
food
security
in our
country
through
the
fertilizer
support
stimulus
package.
We
provided
fertilizer
at Rs
350 per
bag,
even
when the
fertilizer
prices
in the
world
market
reached
a
staggering
Rs 9,500
per bag.
My dear
friends,
it took
Sri
Lanka 55
years,
1948 to
2003, to
reach a
per
capita
income
level of
around
US
dollars
1,000.
But
during
the next
5 years,
2004 to
2008, we
were
able to
increase
it
beyond
US
dollars
2,000.
That is
surely
an
amazing
achievement.
The fact
that
this
doubling
of per
capita
incomes
was
achieved,
while we
were
liberating
the
country
from an
inhuman
terrorist
group,
makes it
even
more
extraordinary.
My dear
friends,
the next
6 years
will be
a period
where
our
nation
will
build
for the
next
century.
We will
implement
a new
wave of
development
strategies
to
develop
the
country
on all
fronts.
We have
effectively
set the
stage
for such
a
take-off
with low
inflation,
low
interest
rates,
high
reserves
and a
sound
financial
system.
But
sometimes,
even
favourable
macro-economic
fundamentals
result
in
un-foreseen
difficulties
being
faced by
some
stakeholders,
in the
short
term.
A case
in point
is that
when
rates of
interest
decrease,
it is
welcomed
by
entrepreneurs
and
businessmen,
but not
by the
savers,
especially
the
senior
citizens.
Consequently,
many
senior
citizens
have
appealed
to us to
intervene
in this
regard.
As a
leader
who is
sensitive
to the
issues
confronting
our
people,
we do
see some
merit in
this
request.
Therefore,
we have
decided
to
respond
by
developing
a scheme
whereby
the
Government
will pay
a bonus
interest
of 20%
of the
interest
paid by
Banks on
deposits
of
senior
citizens,
to be
effective
from
January
2010.
This
would
mean
that a
senior
citizen
who
receives
interest
on a
deposit
with a
Bank,
will
receive
an
additional
one-fifth
of such
interest
from the
Government
as a
special
support,
so long
as
Treasury
bill
interest
rates
are
lower
than a
certain
specified
level.
By
introducing
this
scheme,
we would
ensure
that our
senior
citizens,
who have
diligently
saved
for
their
retirement,
will be
able to
enjoy a
higher
income,
when
interest
rates
decline
sharply.
In this
regard,
I will
request
the
Central
Bank and
the
Ministry
of
Finance
to work
out the
logistics,
so that
we can
implement
this
scheme
in the
New
Year.
Mr.
Chairman,
over the
next 6
years,
we will
also
take
measures
to bring
poverty
levels
down to
below
2%. We
showed
our
commitment
to this
effort
by
reducing
poverty
levels
by one
third
during
the past
4 years,
and we
are
confident
we can
meet
this new
vital
goal as
well.
In
addition,
we will
ensure
one
hundred
percent
(100%)
electricity
coverage
in our
country
by the
year
2016. We
will
ensure
that
there
will
never be
any
power
shortage.
Over the
past 4
years,
we
increased
the
electricity
coverage
from 75%
to 87%
of our
country,
and we
shall
continue
with
that
momentum
over the
next few
years as
well.
Our
youth
are our
future.
In my
second
term as
President,
we will
ensure
that
every
youth
who
completes
his
secondary
education
will be
assured
of a
livelihood.
We will
develop
a scheme
that
will
entitle
our
youth to
specialized
education
of one’s
choice
when
they
turn 18.
Such
education
will be
supported
by my
new
Government.
By these
initiatives,
we will
ensure
that
every
youth
would be
trained
for a
livelihood
program
or
profession,
without
exception.
We will
also
make the
best use
of the
opportunities
that
have
opened
out due
to the
liberation
of the
North
and the
East.
These
parts of
the
country
too,
could
deliver
tremendous
value to
our
economy
over the
next few
years.
The
re-settlement
process
of those
of our
brothers
and
sisters
who were
displaced
because
of
terrorism,
is now
going on
at a
fast
pace.
Our
commitment
to
resettle
80 to 90
per cent
of those
displaced
by the
end of
this
year is
on
track,
and that
will be
completed
by the
end of
January
2010.
During
my next
term, I
will
also lay
special
emphasis
on
improving
our
country’s
governance
structures,
so that
the
administration
as well
as other
sectors
would be
even
more
efficient.
Over the
past 4
years,
we made
significant
improvements
in our
administrative
mechanism,
and that
is why
we were
able to
implement
the
biggest
ever
development
programmes
in the
history
of our
country.
Even so,
our next
wave of
development
would
require
the
establishment
of
better
processes
and
procedures,
and I
would
make it
a
priority
to
establish
new and
tight
standards
and
norms to
do so.
I will
also
increase
our
focus in
dealing
comprehensively
with
organized
crime
and drug
abuse,
so that
we could
provide
a well
disciplined
and safe
society
for all
our
citizens.
Through
these
and
other
initiatives,
my
target
is to
double
the per
capita
income
of our
country
to reach
at least
4,000 US
Dollars
by the
time I
finish
my next
term of
office
as
President.
When we
do that,
we will
make our
country
a truly
middle
income
country.
Then, we
will be
able to
walk
with our
heads
held
high as
a
prosperous
people.
My dear
friends,
while we
are
concentrating
on the
development
effort,
we must
also be
intensely
mindful
about
preserving
democracy
in our
country.
Democracy
is the
corner
stone on
which
our
political
structures
are
built.
We
cannot
risk our
democratic
way of
life.
World
history
is
filled
with
many
instances
where
ambitious
persons
who have
not been
brought
up in a
democratic
framework,
assuming
power
and then
suspending
democratic
institutions
in
various
countries.
I am
certain
that the
professionals
and
right
thinking
persons
of our
country
are well
aware of
such
risks,
and that
they
would
act in
the
manner
necessary
to
preserve
and
carefully
sustain
democracy
for our
future
generations.
Mr.
Chairman,
every
citizen
of this
country
knows
that I
have
delivered
on my
promises.
My new
mission
is to
lead our
country
to
prosperity
soon. I
am
confident
we can
do so,
because
we have
the
vision,
courage,
and
experience
to
improve
our
society
and
economy.
Towards
that
goal,
our
workforce
and
people
are
responding,
and I am
thankful
for
their
encouragement
and
confidence.
My dear
friends,
I also
look
forward
to draw
on the
strength,
support
and
advice
of the
professionals
of our
country.
You are
the
brains
of our
nation.
There is
plenty
of work
for all
of us to
do. I am
sure, if
all of
us take
it upon
ourselves
to help
our
country,
we would
soon be
the
prosperous
nation
we are
hoping
for.
I wish
you all,
a
prosperous
future.
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