'Yes we can'
By Shanika SRIYANANDA
 "Yes we can". It was the magic word of the UPFA government to
annihilate the scourge of LTTE terrorism. And now it is the magic word
of the Government which is striving to become Asia's wonder.The leader
who firmly believed 'yes we can' recalled how the motto resulted in
defeating the LTTE and re-establishing democracy after three decades.
"Sri Lanka succeeded in eradicating terrorism and South Korea developed
to greater heights by inculcating a positive attitude ‘we can’ do it.
Both countries managed to achieve their targets due to the firm resolve
‘We can’, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Seoul.
Develop
Addressing the Sri Lankan community, including expatriate workers and
university students in Seoul, the President said he would develop Sri
Lanka based on this firm belief ‘We can’.
The President said that he and the Sri Lankans were impressed with
the assurance given by Korean President, Lee Myung–Bak that Sri Lankan
youths in South Korea were working effectively and honestly, a
Presidential Media Division release said.
He said it was a challenge in the 1990s, when he pioneered to send
Sri Lankan youth for employment in Korea. He said these efforts have
borne fruit and over 23,000 Sri Lankan youth were employed in South
Korea, giving an impetus to the country’s economy. The President
outlined the contribution made by Sri Lankan expatriate workers in Korea
towards strengthening the country’s economy.
Commending the services of Sri Lankan expatriate workers President
Rajapaksa said these workers could enjoy many facilities as dividends of
development on their return.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, were
on a four-day official visit to South Korea on the invitation of South
Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, from last Monday.
One major event during the President's visit was his meeting with
Korean investors. Addressing Sri Lanka-Korea Business Forum hosted by
the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he invited investors to
invest in Sri Lanka to be a partner in the prosperous march of the
nation. "Let me also assure you that all our Sri Lankan economic
authorities are working hard to deliver such a sound macro platform and
a competitive environment so that all economic stakeholders in our
nation would continue to have confidence in our economy and country".
Business Forum
"I am pleased to be here at this Sri Lanka–Korea Business Forum
hosted by the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to share a few
thoughts about the Sri Lankan economy with key business persons of
Korea. I had the opportunity to address your colleagues of four major
business associations in Seoul, two days ago.
I am also pleased to inform you that I had a very fruitful meeting
with the President of the Republic of Korea on Tuesday where we
discussed how the two countries could enhance trade and investment and
of course tourism. I was particularly pleased to hear from the President
that Sri Lankan workers in Korea are a productive group.
Since the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka placed before you
many details of the Sri Lankan economy, my comments will be brief.
The relationship between Sri Lanka and Korea has been long, cordial
and productive, and over the past many years, the two countries have
benefited by the economic cooperation between businesses in our
respective countries. Today, when Sri Lanka enters a new economic era
with stability, growth and development, I believe it is the right time
for us to step up our relationship, so the people of both countries
could benefit by the new opportunities available in our land.
My dear friends, the Sri Lankan economy grew by 8.3 per cent in 2011,
following an 8 per cent growth in 2010. Such an achievement was possible
because we were able to successfully end the three-decade long terrorist
conflict in our country, and provide a new platform for the Sri Lanka
economy to grow and prosper.
Over the past several years, our economic policies and programs have
led to our per capita income rising sharply, and at the same time, our
unemployment level recording a very low level. Incidents of poverty also
took a sharp drop. At the same time, our inflation levels were
maintained at low levels for over three consecutive years. Further, the
living standards of our people improved significantly, with widespread
regional infrastructure development taking an important place in our
economic agenda.
In the meantime, all our economic sectors, agriculture, industries
and services are performing well, and we are today able to provide a
robust new investment destination as a frontier country to the rest of
the world. In that background, many investors realize that Sri Lanka is
well poised to offer a safe and sound investment opportunity to its many
foreign investors and are working closely with many of our own companies
to strike new relationships that are of mutual benefit. The main areas
in which we are looking forward to welcoming new investments are in the
fields of infrastructure, port related activities, aviation services,
knowledge based industries, tourism and leisure industry and commercial
services.
Opportunities
In all these investment decisions, our Board of Investment will be
able to assist you in choosing and implementing your projects and we
therefore, invite you to make use of these opportunities. Also in order
to give you peace of mind, we will maintain our investor protection
policies, which will ensure that those who invest in our country would
have their investments protected by law. We would implement the required
policies so that you could benefit by continuous sound macro
fundamentals that would support the growth momentum and stability of our
nation", he added.
At the summit held at the official residence of the Korean President
in Seoul to discuss ways to strengthen economic and other cooperation
between the two countries, President Myung-Bak said after successfully
defeating terrorism, Sri Lanka’s economy has grown steadily and the
political situation stabilized due to President Rajapaksa’s leadership.
He said more than 20,000 Sri Lankan employees were currently
contributing to the economy of South Korea and the bilateral relations
between Sri Lanka and Korea would be further strengthened by the visit
of President Rajapaksa.
President Rajapaksa appreciated the decision to expand the Sri Lankan
workforce in South Korea. Two leaders further discussed the agreements
signed between Sri Lanka and Korea. President Lee is of the view that
inter-Parliamentary relations between two countries should be further
enhanced. The Korean President also thanked Sri Lanka for sending a pair
of elephants two years ago as a token of friendship.
President Rajapaksa proposed an air connectivity to link Buddhists in
Sri Lanka and Korea. He also appreciated the assistance rendered by
Korea for development activities in Sri Lanka. President invited Korean
investors to make use of the investment opportunities available in the
country and also pointed out the possibility of entering into a free
trade agreement between the two countries as Sri Lanka's exports to
Korea has grown up to USD 46 million last year. The Korean President
agreed to provide his country's assistance to the Information Technology
Park currently being built in Hambantota.
President Rajapaksa appreciated relief work by the Korean volunteer
relief workers in Sri Lanka.
Concluding yet another foreign visit, President Rajapaksa and his
delegation returned home on Friday afternoon.
|
