It is imperative to pay careful attention to world tendencies in order to overcome the challenges faced by Sri Lanka at present, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a ceremony held at Temple Trees yesterday (July 12) to give letters of appointment to 227 newly recruited Management Trainees for the People’s Bank.

The President also said that any task undertaken methodically can be accomplished successfully, as exemplified by the Government’s successful closure of the thirty-decade long conflict.

The economy of Sri Lanka stood resilient to the world economic crisis thanks to our well planned economic policies while many other countries were undergoing severe economic problems, he added.

President Rajapaksa further noted that even though some complained about the Government’s plans to resettle IDPs, it is not a simple process that can be completed overnight. “They talk about war crimes, freedom of speech and human rights. But Sri Lanka is the only country which resettled nearly 290,000 IDPs within a two year period. Only 10,000 IDPs are left to be resettled.” A conducive atmosphere for the IDPs needs to be created beforehand, he stressed.

The Government also has allocated considerable funds on infrastructure development that includes an endeavour to provide every household with electricity, and an island-wide project of road renovation.

President Rajapaksa congratulated the new appointees and requested their willing contribution to the nation’s progress.

Adding his views, Chairman of the People’s Bank W. Karunajeewa said that the Government has understood the due value of graduates that was once undermined, and it is due to this reason that the President promised to recruit 1,500 graduates to state institutions.