The past four years was a significant period for Sri Lanka not only because of the defeat of terrorism which plagued the nation for nearly three decades, but also because of the massive economic revival. President Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to lead the country towards victory over terrorism along with a substantial victory in the economic front. Thus Sri Lanka received the honour of being elevated to the status of Middle Income Emerging Market, the eighth fastest growing economy in the world as well as its stock market being ranked the second best in the world.

Such progress in the security and economic fronts led the world to view Sri Lanka in a positive light making it one of the most attractive places to visit. The New York Times named Sri Lanka, the number one tourist destination in the world, while a leading US travel website the Daily Candy stated that Sri Lanka was the best place they have visited. Many western countries lifted travel restrictions to Sri Lanka and the number of tourist arrivals increased by 2.1 percent in 2009. Sri Lanka received 477,890 tourists in 2009. It was only 438,475 in 2008.

Massive development projects commenced within the last four years and many have already been completed. Under the "Maga Naguma" programme, over 7,600 km of village roads were constructed, major towns were linked with the construction of flyovers and bridges designed to reduce traffic congestions and link major cities. The Kinniya Bridge in Trincomalee is significant as it is the longest bridge in Sri Lanka. Eight flyovers were constructed and opened up to date. The Colombo - Katunayake expressway linking the Bandaranaika International Airport with the Metropolis is also under construction designed to ease heavy traffic.

The Eastern Province where terrorism was at its height in the past, saw massive development with its liberation in 2007. For the first time in nearly three decades, the people of the Eastern Province were able to fully exercise their right to participate in the democratic process with the Local Government and Provincial Council Elections.

Under the “Negenahira Navodaya” programme, major development projects have commenced and most completed in all three districts of the Eastern Province. The aim of these projects is to provide equitable resource allocation among all communities and restart livelihoods. Damaged social and economic patterns were speedily restored along with infrastructure facilities ensuring normalcy.

IDPs are being resettled rapidly in the North. Over 200,000 civilians, kept as human shields by the LTTE were rescued and provided with necessary facilities in the government welfare centres. At present, over 50 % of the IDPs have been resettled with livelihood assistance provided by the government. As of 22 Jan 2010, the number of resettled IDPs is 133,029.

Sri Lanka's strategic location, being an island-nation in the Indian Ocean, linking the naval routes between the East and West, is used to the maximum with the construction and upgrade of ports around the country. The ports of Colombo, Galle, Hambantota, Trincomalee, Oluvil, Kankasanthurai and Point Pedro are under construction.

High priority was given to energy security and energy conservation in the country during the past four years with massive projects underway. Upper Kotmale hydropower project, Kerawalapitiya Thermal Power Plant, Norochcholai Coal Fired Power Plant and Trincomalee Coal Fired Power Plant are the major ongoing projects. At present, it is estimated that 77% of the households have electricity with grid connections whilst 3% are served by off-grid facilities.

The government is using English and IT as instruments of rural empowerment. Computer literacy is above 20 percent in 2009 which is a 25 percent increase from 16.1 percent in 2006/07.

The establishment of 579 Nenasalas or rural tele-centres and 2,500 IT labs in schools, was largely instrumental for this increase. The goal of the Government is to enhance the number of Nenasalas to 1,000 and to reach 50% of IT literacy by the end of 2010.

Work towards the development of sports is also admirable. Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Diyagama, Homagama was constructed and opened recently while Sri Lanka Cricket opened a new World Cup venue in Pallekele which is intended for the 2011 World Cup. The construction of a Sports Training Complex to facilitate national and international sportsmen/women has commenced in Nuwara Eliya while other projects in the national, district, and schools level are being carried out.

In keeping with the Mahinda Chintana pledge, the Government has taken action to fulfil the healthcare needs of the people, by upgrading health facilities in Sri Lanka. Re-constructing and upgrading hospitals by the Government in a number of areas is a key aspect of this policy.

The milk production in Sri Lanka reached the highest quantity by the end of 2009 under the livestock and dairy development programmes of the Government. The total annual cow and buffalo milk production reached 208,093,090 litres by 2008, a leap from 177,089,045 litres in 1998.

The total fresh milk production increased 160.72, 162.79, 166.07, and 170.61 MT respectively in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. The production was only 157.78 in 2003.

These are few examples of Sri Lanka's economic revival experienced during the past four years.