The President noted that the national economy no longer depends on the Colombo district as its biggest contributor but has spread its wings to encompass other areas as well. As a result the contribution of the Colombo district in this regard has come down from 52 percent to 48 percent today, quoting the President, Daily News reported.

He also added that Sri Lanka was looking at new world trends and innovative means to strengthen its economy such as nuclear generated power for cheaper consumption.

‘We successfully defeated the scourge of terrorism. Now it is our responsibility to develop the country’, President Rajapaksa told the large gathering.

Speaking of the development taking place in the North and East the President said that he had appointed his own brother and Senior Advisor to the President Basil Rajapaksa to spearhead the task with the hope of achieving accelerated and sustainable development in the region which bore the brunt of the conflict.

President Rajapaksa commenting on the country’s current economic trends said even during the conflict the economy grew with mega development taking place including five harbours, an airport, new roads, irrigation schemes, power generation plants etc.