Elect professionals for country’s progress - Minister Ranawaka

by L.S. Ananda Wedaarachchi

Professionals and educated, disciplined candidates should be elected to parliament at the upcoming general election to successfully meet the country’s future challenges, said Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

He said that Sri Lanka has four major challenges to face in the coming years such as Defeating the LTTE’s attempt to set up a global Eelam, Implementing the necessary constitutional changes, Developing Sri Lanka as.

Asia’s wonderland with the hub for navigation, travel, commerce, power and energy and achieving sustainable development would be the main challenges to be dealt with, he said.

India, Japan, Korea, and Singapore achieved rapid economic development through their farsighted management policies, he said.Five decades ago Sri Lanka was in a better position compared to our neighbouring countries.

While those countries achieved economic success through good governance and well planned development policies but Sri Lanka degenerated to economic malaise, he said.A National Planning Council headed by Dr. Abdul Kalam who later became the President of India introduced a 20-year development plan for his country. While the B.J.P. government implemented Kalam’s plan, the Congress government continued to go ahead with the same plan to develop, India.

India has achieved its development goals during the recent past.

It will emerge as a strong economic giant due to progressive, political and economic policies executed by its political leadership, he said.Japan and Korea have also achieved rapid economic progress mainly due to the professional management systems followed by the country’s leaders, he said.