lkdood
04-09-2008, 04:36 AM
By Ravindu Peiris
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday noted that although there is a high cost of living prevailing in the country poverty has decreased by 33 percent from 2002 to 2007. The President stated that according to the latest statistics the poverty rate is at 15 percent which was 23 percent in 2002. Addressing the launch of the Central Bank Annual Report 2007 President Rajapaksa said, “Poverty has not reduced at such a rate in Sri Lanka in recent history. However the parties condemning the government are not prepared to speak about this.”
The poverty rate has increased only in the Nuwara-Eliya District and the President pointed out that only this had been highlighted by the opposing parties. He admitted that there is high inflation as well as a monumental cost of living in the island, but that was due to the escalating per capita GDP which is currently US $ 1617; the low income earning population will be able to withstand the high prices.
He revealed that the main challenges of the Sri Lankan economy are terrorism and establishing sustainable economic development. He conveyed that in order to overcome these obstacles there should be dynamic economic growth in the country as well as distributing the revenues fairly throughout the low income earning population.
He affirmed that although the LTTE had assassinated ministers like Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, D.M. Dassanayake and T. Maheswaran, the government will not back down from proceeding with the war or advancing to the North. He further declared that amidst terrorism and all the issues in the country, the economy has been able to achieve a growth of 6 percent for three consecutive years.
“We know that terrorism is a massive burden to the economy. But we have to defeat this abominable enemy in order to liberate our country, our economy and the Sri Lankans who are suffering from this menace” he stated.
Finance Deputy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Central Bank Governor Ajith Cabraal, Deputy Governors, Dr. Ranee Jayamaha and W.A. Wijewardena and Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara were also present at the occasion.
dailymirror (http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=11449)
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday noted that although there is a high cost of living prevailing in the country poverty has decreased by 33 percent from 2002 to 2007. The President stated that according to the latest statistics the poverty rate is at 15 percent which was 23 percent in 2002. Addressing the launch of the Central Bank Annual Report 2007 President Rajapaksa said, “Poverty has not reduced at such a rate in Sri Lanka in recent history. However the parties condemning the government are not prepared to speak about this.”
The poverty rate has increased only in the Nuwara-Eliya District and the President pointed out that only this had been highlighted by the opposing parties. He admitted that there is high inflation as well as a monumental cost of living in the island, but that was due to the escalating per capita GDP which is currently US $ 1617; the low income earning population will be able to withstand the high prices.
He revealed that the main challenges of the Sri Lankan economy are terrorism and establishing sustainable economic development. He conveyed that in order to overcome these obstacles there should be dynamic economic growth in the country as well as distributing the revenues fairly throughout the low income earning population.
He affirmed that although the LTTE had assassinated ministers like Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, D.M. Dassanayake and T. Maheswaran, the government will not back down from proceeding with the war or advancing to the North. He further declared that amidst terrorism and all the issues in the country, the economy has been able to achieve a growth of 6 percent for three consecutive years.
“We know that terrorism is a massive burden to the economy. But we have to defeat this abominable enemy in order to liberate our country, our economy and the Sri Lankans who are suffering from this menace” he stated.
Finance Deputy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Central Bank Governor Ajith Cabraal, Deputy Governors, Dr. Ranee Jayamaha and W.A. Wijewardena and Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara were also present at the occasion.
dailymirror (http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=11449)