Accelerated contribution to Gross Domestic Product from North and the East provinces are vital at this moment and the political parties in those regions should extend their maximum support to the Government's exercise in achieving a rapid economic progress in a broader manner, Dr. Laksiri Fernando said.

Delivering the D. A. Rajapaksa annual memorial lecture at Temple Trees yesterday, the former Senior Professor in Political Science and Public Policy of Colombo University said there should be a comprehensive political dialogue between the North and the South and the business communities in the North and the South should forge more closer cooperation to boost the country's economy.

He was of the view that there should be complete cooperation between the Central Government, Provincial Councils and the local government in the march towards achieving economic prosperity for the county.

He said that a concerted effort is being made by the Government with the support of all political parties to establish economic and social development under the Mahinda Chintana policy framework.

He said the Eastern province and the Jaffna district have seen economic revival after the end of the three-decade conflict. Dr Fernando said the Government has implemented several mega projects in the North and the East to restore the infrastructure facilities devastated by the terrorists.

He added that the Government has succeeded in resettling over 300,000 people displaced by LTTE terrorist atrocities within 18 months.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa were among those present at the lecture.