Deadlocked development projects make headway - President

by Elmo Leonard

Some of the development projects of the country, hitherto deadlocked and hindered for years, were started during the past six months, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

These projects include the coal power plant which is one of the single largest projects in the history of the country, the President said at the CIMA business leader's summit, themed, `Unleash your potential 2006,' begun, Thursday last.

The construction activity on the Southern Expressway was continuing with vigour. Work on the Katunayake Expressway had commenced. Projects such as the Hambantota port, Weerawila airport, and other mega projects on power, water, tourism, industries, property development, drainage, ports, roads and irrigation were well on the way towards commencing, soon, the President said, via satellite, from his residence in Colombo.

President Rajapaksa, believed that Sri Lanka as a nation has the ability to progress and develop rapidly. The reasons he cited for his comment, which he called "bold" was that within six months of he being in office as President, many stalled projects had commenced.

The President thanked CIMA for providing him with the opportunity to speak on the occasion of its 2006 program. The theme, "Unleash your potential" was very relevant and timely, he said. there was an urgent need for the whole country to focus on how to unlock her hidden talents, resources and potential, within the country, long dormant.

The president drew attention to Sri Lanka's long history of over 2,500 years, during which time its people had been generally considered to be highly civilised, skilled and literate. However, over the past few centuries, perhaps due to foreign intervention, the people may have lost some part of their ability to develop rapidly and keep pace with the rest of the world. As a result, Sri Lanka had not been able to establish its rightful place as a developed nation from an economic viewpoint.

Government, on its part was providing serious and continuous training for its people to upgrade their knowledge and skills. Better management techniques and financial discipline was being introduced to institutions under government control, together with extensive reviews and implementation processes.

All miniseries, departments and projects were being regularly monitored and evaluated, the President said.

President Rajapaksa wished, that within the next few years, he will see new enterprises being established in all parts of the country. This is while the country's small enterprises were being converted into medium sized ones; medium sized enterprises transformed into large scale business institutions; large scale companies expanded into regional and international players.

The President called upon the nation to work together; to position Sri Lanka as a visible and vibrant player in the local and global business arena. In all such activity, the President pledged, his government was ready to assist business leaders. "On your part, we would be happy if you find ways and means to unlock your own potential as proposed in your conference theme," he said.

President Rajapaksa said that the CIMA organisation's success would undoubtedly contribute to the success of the nation. "Your contribution would enable you to create wealth and reduce poverty in our country. Your efforts would lead to a better and brighter Sri Lanka," he said.