A special discussion was held among government stakeholders yesterday (22) at the Presidential Secretariat on developing a plan to establish one million domestic economic units.

The objective of the discussion was focused on enhancing the people’s living standards and strengthening their economic level with the assistance of the Government administrative bodies. These domestic economic units will be set up in the coming Yala and Maha seasons.

'This program is not oriented for short-term results. Each and every segments of the project should be equally responsible to make this program a success', Minister Basil Rajapaksa who chaired the meeting said.

Identification of the areas where these economic units are to be set up will be completed in the first month of next year, he added.

Under this program, four key government officials who have direct contacts with the people at grassroots level will be in charge of the project.

Agrarian Research officer, Samurdhi officer, Gramaseva Niladhari and Family Planning officers will co-ordinate to make the project a success.

A section of families will be directly supervised by these officials to ascertain whether they are engaged in the project successfully, the Minister said.

The project will cover all parts of the country. This will be conducted as a joint venture of several ministries, he added.

Agriculture, industries, self-employment, fisheries, livestocks, small crops, animal husbandry, dairy industries and home garden will be strengthened with the direct support of the Government, he said.

The Minister said that the Government will never let small businessmen to be crushed at the hands of large scale businessmen.

He said that recently one Ambassador asked BoI permission to produce yoghurt in the country with the support of a leading global yogurt producer.

But permission was not given as it could be a threat to the local yogurt producer, he said.

Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Athauda Seneviratne, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Salinda Dissanayake, Reginald Cooray, S M Chandrasena, Rishard Bathiudeen, Muthu Sivalingam, Weerakumara Dassanayaka, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and H R Mithrapala attended the meeting.
Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundara and Media Secretary W B Ganegala also participated.