UTV | COLOMBO – Minister of Plantation Ramesh Pathirana says the government has launched steps to restore foreign remittances that have been disrupted owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Expressing his views to a prominent news portal in the isle, Minister Pathirana said the government will positively face concerns surrounding the economy while uplifting export incomes.
The Minister explained that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s main economic vision is to establish a locally driven economy.
He stressed during the COVID-19 crisis exports continued and as a result the government was able to stabilise the rupee and transformed the market balance to a positive, adding however that the country will continue to face challenges until the situation world over stabilises.
Pathirana said the countries manufacturing economy will be developed and accordingly efforts will be taken to improve agriculture and other related manufactured goods.
He noted discussions are underway to increase agriculture and plantation manufacture including increasing exports, further remarking although tourism has been affected temporarily, steps will be taken to restore the tourism industry by 2021.
The Minister stressed all must remain positive of the future.
Minister Ramesh Pathirana added power has been decentralised among Ministries and State Ministries within the composition of the new Cabinet of Ministers.
He noted power has been distributed and State Ministers have been vested with great responsibilities, adding the subject areas were gazetted even before posts were handed out.
Minister Pathirana stated the composition and institutions have been detailed, whilst the subjects have been wisely distributed.
He stressed therefore that the results of these decisions will be beneficial to the country, remarking this was what the President and the Cabinet expects.
