President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in the formulation of all future development plans for the country and in their implementation, new MPs had an important contribution to make.

The President was addressing new MPs on the future economic plans for the country at Temple Trees yesterday (8 Nov).

Taking into consideration the suggestions made by the new MPs towards the future development plans and their implementation, the President instructed the Treasury Secretary to make note of these suggestions when preparing the budget.

The new MPs praised the President for the steps taken by the Government to increase local production and protect indigenous industries.

They also extensively discussed with the President the need to co-opt the Private sector into the accelerated development process that is taking place in the country following the end to terrorism.

Noting that the North and East that has been liberated from terrorism and is today contributing greatly to the national economy, the President said these areas were also witnessing a big boon for local industries, fisheries and tourism. The President underscored the need to provide all assistance towards this development process adding that the aim of the Government was to develop infrastructure in these areas and meet the peoples’ aspirations to the optimum.

The President also paying attention to a suggestion by the new MPs for adopting a policy to curb the brain drain on the basis that this resource could be utilized for the country’s economic development said he would devise some sort of mechanism towards this end.

The President taking into account the proposals submitted by the freshers said he would pay special attention to the issues pertaining to the development of health and education together with strengthening the state sector, empowering women and improving childcare saying he would fully implement the Mahinda Chintana forward vision programme.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Deputy Finance and Planning Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Treasury Secretary Dr P B Jayasundera were also present.