President Rajapaksa's tenure etched in letters of gold

Boom in agriculture, irrigation, commerce, trade and the industrial sector:

Foreign remittances hit US $ 6.4 billion in 2013:

By Naalir Jamaldeen

The Southern Highway which has cut travel time by half

In the annals of Sri Lanka's history, President Mahinda Rajapaksa's tenure will be written in letters of gold. Agriculture, irrigation, commerce, trade and the industrial sector are blooming within a period of less than four years after the elimination of terrorism.

Sri Lanka is turning into a destination suitable for industrial and tourism sector development. A large number of foreign investors have begun making Sri Lanka their investment destination. Sri Lanka is targeting US$ 5 billion by 2016, Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

President Rajapaksa who realised that rural development can be expedited only by linking villages with cities. A large number of bridges linking cities and villages were constructed across the country at a cost of billions of rupees.

The Government initiated various power supply projects such as the Norochcholai coal power plant, Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi Thermal Power Plant and Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Plant. A new coal power plant will be set up in Sampur in Trincomalee district, he said.

The Government has planned to promote the tourism industry in the Delft Island in the Jaffna district. Various new locations in the Eastern Coastal belt have been identified to promote the tourism industry. Matara has also turned into a major tourism destination in the country. Tea related tourism industry is also to be promoted in the Deniyaya area.

The Government has initiated a major road development project across the country including the North and East. A major stretch of road development has already been completed. The road development works in most areas are progressing.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given due recognition to the industrial sector and as a result their is industrial sector is rapidly developing. On the directive of President Rajapaksa the Investment Promotion Ministry has brought 300 industries to villages to address the unemployment problem in villages and to develop villages similar to the cities across the country.

Sri Lanka is the only country which provides a fertiliser subsidy to farmers and coconut cultivators. The coconut industry is also to be promoted in the North and East after the elimination of the LTTE. There is a conducive environment for coconut cultivation in the two districts, Minister Abeywardena said.

The North and East which remained a ghost city when it was forcibly dominated by the LTTE terrorists has now turned into a hub of prosperity.

The Government has initiated all programs in the liberated North to restore normalcy. A large stretch of cultivable lands have come under the plough and the Government is providing facilities to farmers to improve their economy and living standards as well.

Minister Abeywardena said that the per capita income of this country will exceed US$ 7,000 by 2020. The shipping and aviation, information technology, Banking facilities and vocational services will reach the top by the same year.

If President Mahinda Rajapaksa's development concept is followed Sri Lanka can become the hub of commerce in the Asia before the due duration. It will also ease the Government's goals to becoming the wonder of Asia.

"The country is moving fast to achieve the goal of sustainable development. Infrastructure facilities have been developed in the manner to accommodate the foreign investors. A huge change has taken place in the rural economy and the national economy as well. Colombo City has turned into a beautiful and safe city in the South Asia.

Tourism, agriculture and the health health sector has achieved a tremendous development during the tenure of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The victory of Uva Provincial Council election has again ascertained the confidence the people have kept on the Government", the Minister said.

A large number of political parties have rallied round President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The political parties which have kept confidence and trust that Mahinda is a capable leader who successfully eliminated terrorism can lead the country towards sustainable development. Tremendous opportunities have been given to investment and industrial sector. CHOGM which was held in Sri Lanka has brought large number of investments towards the country. There may be different opinions among the parties but President Mahinda Rajapaksa brought various faction with different opinions under one umbrella, Minister Abeywardena said.

Sri Lanka has received US$ 11 billion Direct Foreign Investments (FDI) between the period from 1978 to 2014, out of them US$ 8 billion FDI has been received between the period from 2006 to 2014. Within the period of 28 years Sri Lanka has received only US$ 3 billion worth DFDI.

But US$ 8 billion worth FDI has been received by Sri Lanka within the period of 8 years during the regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Abeywardena said.

My Ministry has launched various projects across the country under the prudent leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Once the ongoing projects are over there will be no doubt Sri Lanka to become the wonder of Asia, Minister Abeywardena said.

"Within the concluded few years my Ministry has paid close attention towards increasing the Gross Domestic Production (GDP), export earnings, employment generation, skills development, exchange of technology and infrastructure development. The investment level should be increased to maintain the economic growth at 7 to 8 percent", the Minister said.

The Government has entered to Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with India and Pakistan. The Government will also enter into a FTO with China, after signing the FTA Sri Lanka will immensely benefit, Minister Abeywardena said.

With the recent visit of Chinese President and Japanese Prime Minister to Sri Lanka the possibility of arrival of investors from these countries have increased. The BOI has also entered into agreements with two prominent Japanese banks, Minister Abeywardena said.

Such a cordial reations was built up with those countries due to the peace restored in the country and the political stability. Sri Lanka is the only country which maintain such a situation in the Asia. All pride for these achievements should go to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Abeywardena said.

The economy of people of this country has developed. Today, there is a bicycle, or Three-Wheeler in each house.

Five to six years before the people who were in life threat now enjoy the benefits of real freedom. Evening parks have been set up in the Independent Square, Galleface, Diyatha Uyana and Race Course areas, the Minister said.

Some said President Mahinda Rajapaksa was brave in eliminating the terrorism. But he has achieved a tremendous development demolishing all barriers which obstructed the country's development. Within five years President Mahinda Rajapaksa has brought the country the avenue of development, the Minister said.