The challenges ahead

Sri Lanka has embarked on a new journey with the second term of office of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. During the 2005 Presidential Election campaign, the masses echoed in one voice just one thing - liberating the country from the clutches of terrorism.

President Rajapaksa lived up to his promise by giving an inspiring leadership to the Security Forces. He fulfilled the dream of an entire nation - a peaceful environment sans terrorism for all communities to live in harmony.

When Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duties as the fifth Executive President on November 19, 2005, the country was in a deplorable state. Uncertainty and fear were the order of the day since people who stepped out of their homes were not sure when the next LTTE bomb would explode, targeting innocent civilians. The country's economy was in a state of near collapse as the LTTE had inflicted the maximum damage on places of economic importance. Foreign investors shunned Sri Lanka and took it off their 'destination map' altogether. Even the few remaining foreign investors were on the verge of terminating their operations here.

At a time when no one believed that terrorism could be defeated, the President ordered the valiant Security Forces to embark on a humanitarian operation, which astounded the world at large. Within the first three-and-a-half years of his first term, President Rajapaksa successfully put an end to terrorism.

Now that the President has begun his second term, the focus now will be to win the 'economic war' as well. His sole aim is to take Sri Lanka towards new economic horizons and usher in an era of prosperity. His next goal is to develop the local economy to become one of the best in Asia.

The President's dream of making Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia is no doubt within the country's reach, provided all citizens work with dedication and march towards that goal as one nation. The foundation for the future has already been laid with Sri Lanka showing a remarkable growth rate of over eight percent.

When President Rajapaksa assumed office, Sri Lanka's per capita was less than US$ 1,000. At the end of his first term, it had doubled. The Government's aim is to double it again and reach the US$ 4,000 mark within the next five years. Inflation has been reduced to a single digit for the first time and the unemployment rate has been reduced to a great extent, providing jobs to thousands of graduates who were a forgotten lot from 2001-2004 when Ranil Wickremesinghe was the Prime Minister.

According to the key economic indicators of the country, this is an achievable target. The need of the hour is a sincere commitment and an active contribution from one and all.

Sri Lanka's post-war progress has been exemplary, to say the least. No other nation which faced such a deadly battle against terror, has progressed as much as Sri Lanka. Almost all civilians who had been displaced due to the war have been resettled in next to no time, much to the consternation of the international community. No other country which had been affected due to internal conflict situations has recovered as fast as Sri Lanka.

Those affected due to terrorism have not only been resettled, but are also making an active contribution to the national economy. People in the North and the East have got a new lease of life with numerous development and infrastructure development projects being implemented.

The aim of the President is to develop the Northern and Southern Provinces and bring them on par with the Western Province. This is already evident with the massive development projects that are going on apace in these provinces. The Southern Expressway and the Colombo-Kandy superhighway would link all those provinces with Colombo, opening a new era of development.

The eradication of terrorism has paved the way for the country's tourist industry to retrieve its lost prestige. There has been an unprecedented increase in the number of tourist arrivals after some countries in the West lifted their travel advisories against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's strategic location makes it an important naval link between West Asia and South East Asia. Sri Lanka has won high approbation as a popular tourist attraction due to its beautiful landscape, sunny beaches and tropical forests.

The tourist industry in the South is regaining its lost market while the Eastern beaches are fast turning out to be the most sought-after destinations for European tourists. All these factors indicate an all-time growth in the country's tourist industry that could make an active contribution to Sri Lanka's economic development.

At a time most countries in the region are grappling to find power resources, Sri Lanka is well on target with its power generation projects.

With the Upper Kotmale hydro power project and Norochcholai coal power project set to strengthen the capacity of the national grid, Sri Lanka is ready to face future challenges.

The mega irrigation projects that are being implemented - Moragahakanda, Kumbukkan Oya, Uma Oya and Rambakan Oya, would strengthen the country's agro-based economy further, thereby encouraging farmers to increase production.

The construction and development of five ports, including the new Magampura International Harbour, will boost trade activities and link Sri Lanka to international markets. The opening of the Magampura harbour would signal a new era of development, not only in the South, but also the entire country.

While waging a fierce battle against terror, the President foresaw the need to increase the power supply in the North and the East. The Norochcholai coal power plant would provide the right solution.

The mega projects undertaken speak volumes of the visionary leadership of President Rajapaksa. He knows only too well the pulse of the rich in Colombo and the poor in far-flung villages.

More importantly, all tasks spelt out in the Mahinda Chinthana visionary statement have been accomplished. The focus now will be on the Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma which would take Sri Lanka on the superhighway of economic development. If Sri Lanka could maintain the current growth rate during the next six years, the President's dream of making Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia would be a reality sooner rather than later.