Encouraging growth rate despite setbacks

Sri Lanka has shown the developing world how much a country, with around USD 1188 per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP- 2005), could achieve in terms of human and social outcomes, such as primary school enrolment and child mortality - two of the Millennium Development Goals.

Despite the battle against one of the most ruthless terrorist organisations in the world, Sri Lanka has been able to maintain an encouraging growth rate of over seven percent this year. Thanks to the several far-sighted decisions taken by the Government, even the unemployment rate has gone down significantly.

On the other hand, poverty in Sri Lanka has declined by three percent, according to the latest report by the World Bank. It added that poverty in urban areas has decreased by 80 per cent. Economic reforms have slashed poverty in the Western Province, where it had fallen from 19 to 11 percent. The Government's aim is to extend this decline in poverty to other provinces as well.

The World Bank report, based on a 13-year period since 1990, states that poverty in the rural areas too has declined by five percent. Despite this record achievement, poverty remains a challenge for the country. However, the Government is taking all steps possible to reduce this to a greater extent under a special Ten-Year Plan proposed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka's economy has been growing at a healthy rate over the past decade. The Government's aim would be to make use of the steady economic growth for the benefit of the poor. Breaking the vicious circle of poverty is a complicated exercise. Nevertheless, the first step for designing any effective poverty alleviation strategy is understanding the ground reality.

The Government has undertaken several major development projects. Some of these mega projects, the Moragahakanda Reservoir, -- the last under the Mahaweli River Development and the Weerawila International Airport, are already under way. The benefits of these projects would be immense.

Our brave security forces have almost liberated the East from the LTTE. The Government now has a huge task to perform in developing the Eastern Province. The Moragahakanda project would help to develop the East. Similarly, the rural lifestyle in the Hambantota District, the entire South for that matter, would change with the development anticipated on completion of Sri Lanka's second international airport at Weerawila. These are only two examples.

Sri Lanka has achieved success in many aspects during the past few months. The victories in Sampur, Mavil Aru and Vakarai are great humanitarian missions carried out by the valiant sons of our soil. Sri Lanka's steady economic growth rate should lead to the successful implementation of the Government's Ten-Year Development Plan.

Urbanisation is not the answer to reducing poverty according to the Mahinda Chinthana, the Government's economic development framework. Top priority has been placed by the Government on modernising the village and moving infrastructure into the provinces. This shows the Government's thinking is quite in line with what is being recommended.

In order to achieve all those lofty goals, political stability would also be an important factor. The Government has been able to work towards that goal as well. With Parliamentarians belonging to the UNP, JHU, CWC and SLMC joining hands with the ruling UPFA, President Rajapaksa has gained a critical edge for winning the economic war and the war against terrorism.

On the 59th Independence Anniversary, President Rajapaksa invited the TNA to join the Government and help in serving those who are suffering in the North. If the TNA Parliamentarians are genuinely interested in serving their own Tamil community in the North, they should fearlessly come forward and work for the betterment of those who have become unfortunate victims of Prabhakaran's bloodthirsty terrorism. Similarly, the JVP too has a significant role to play.

They are still a partner of the 'Mahinda Chinthana'. They have an obligation to extend the fullest support in taking that vision forward. If the JVP and the TNA too support the Government to overcome terrorism and also to win the economic war, then we should be able to eradicate poverty and make steady progress as a nation.

The Tamil and Muslim leaders too joined the Sinhalese leaders in our country's freedom struggle. All communities have been a part of our freedom struggle.

Hence, all of us should continue to protect this country, its sovereignty and territorial integrity.