People's voice loud and clear:

Economic upturn in top gear

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

The infrastructure development that was launched in the last four years has surpassed all other projects that were completed in the last two decades.

Vindyani Hettigoda

Kosala Wickramanayake

Sarath de Silva

Azmi Thassim

Most of the ventures such as the Hambantota and the Colombo harbour, Oluvil development, power projects in Sampur, Kotmale, Norochcholai and mega irrigation projects will be completed this year.

Many observers felt that a change of leaderships would have resulted in these projects being stalled, resulting in a major economic down turn.

Chambers and the business community is happy that the focus on development would continue.

The President, Federation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCISL), Kosala Wickramanayake says that Sri Lanka has suffered enough in the past, due to terrorism and now the President elect has the golden opportunity to unite all the ethnic groups and take steps to develop the country.

"Sri Lankans have spoken in the Presidential election and they have accepted President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the leader of the country for six more years."

"The President should now concentrate on developing the nation with vision." He said.

The Sri Lankans have the talent to achieve development without much difficulty if we worked with a clear strategy.

"The FCCISL will do all the ground work to bring district and regional issues through the Chamber network to the centre for finding solutions and giving relief to the SMEs and Entrepreneurs."

"We request the Western governments to assist President Rajapaksa's mission to develop this country by granting required assistance to bring relief to Sri Lankans."

"The country has accepted the manifesto 'Idiri Dakma' and the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa with a clear majority and we urge the President to rise above party politics now to unite this nation and bring prosperity to the country."

President of the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), Sarath de Silva assured that they would keep on assisting the President and will be committed to extend their assistance and support to the President and the Government to achieve the economic goals that have been already set to ensure the future growth and prosperity of Sri Lanka.

NCE, says that the war is over and the country has now begun to enjoy the long awaited peace and stability that is so vital to achieve future developmental goals. "In this context the people of Sri Lanka have given a very clear mandate to President to forge ahead with his programme to make Sri Lanka an economically prosperous nation."

Silva who is also a Director of the Lankaputhra Development Bank adds that good governance and respect for law and order are vital to achieve the goals of Government to ensure that the country does not fritter away the hard won peace and stability, for which the President gave the great leadership.

"Exports are an indispensable and vital component of the economy, for a developing nation such as Sri Lanka with a limited local market. In this context it is the bounden duty of all arms of the state machinery to incentives, assist and serve exporters to achieve the export target of US$20 Billion that has been set to be reached by the year 2020."

"In this regard, the Chamber believes that the above target could be achieved earlier if the public and private sectors work together with commitment and cooperation."

Vice President of the National Chamber of Commerce, Asoka Hettigoda says that the victory is a clear mandate given by the general public of this country who has shown their faith and confidence on the economic policies of the President.

The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, representing over 500 corporate members and over 2,500 SMEs, says that this victory also confirms the right path the President took in supporting local industries to strengthen its position locally while assisting them to become international players.

"The President's main achievement in bringing lasting peace to this country has created an economically conducive environment that has tremendously helped the business community. National Chamber of Commerce, whose membership represents all sectors of Industry, will assist the President's vision to make this country's economy a First World economy."

"We are extremely excited about the plans to double the current per capita income in the next four years as this will create many opportunities for mainly the small and medium sectors of the country which the National Chamber of Commerce has a large group of members."

"The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) has always supported the President's initiatives in developing the business community outside the Western Province and hope that NCCSL can be partners with the Government for future development activities as well.

We will extend our fullest support for your plans in regional development, development of the Small and Medium Sector, creating a strong local industry and the agriculture sector.

We also hope that you will simplify the present tax system to make it more attractive to the local investors. National Chamber of Commerce pledges its fullest co-operation to the President and the Government in developing the economy and the business sector in the country.

President, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), Srilal Miththapala said that their council which is primarily committed towards bi lateral and multi lateral trade and investment ties looks forwarded to a continued era of peace and prosperity.

"THASL is happy to note that there was no violence that marked the presidential election and extends warm congratulations to Mahinda Rajapaksa on his election for the second term."

"We will now look to consolidating and improving the close association we have had with the President, and build on that continuity.

We will look to him to give leadership to build a stable and strong economic climate, devoid of corruption and interference, where the tourism industry can play the vital role of being the catalyst and thrust industry, which will spearhead Sri Lanka's economic growth in the future."

Former President, Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCISL), Nawaz Rajabdeen said that this is the first Presidential election that was held, where the whole country voted and hence it was an historic win.

He said that the local politicians have not taken the message of the focused mega development that was taking place in the North East to the masses and this is an area the President would have to address.

"I know he would continue with the North East development in the future as well," he said.

President of the Women's Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC), Ms. Vindyani Hettigoda expressed that the association is extremely positive about progressing along the lines of empowering women to prosper in the corporate world, in micro industries and cottage industries.

"We take President's victory as a new impetus as we are confident of his support of the WCIC to develop our insisting initiatives while guiding us along future human resources development projects."

The WCIC maintains that skills development of the female working population is a prudent means of raising the bar on quality across the represented industries, which will, in turn help contribute collectively to the GDP of the country.

It avers that industries such as weaving, sewing, farming, catering, beauty culture and hairdressing are all dominated by women and these provide opportunity for increasing their earnings.

In keeping with this, stepping up on performance levels and increasing the quality of their products that would even make it competitive in international markets is essential for the survival of such industries.

Director General, Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce Azmi Thassim said that they were happy that the election was held in a largely peaceful atmosphere and that almost 75% of the electorate exercised their democratic right to vote.

"Now with the advent of peace after 25 years, we expect to see accelerated economic and social development, particularly in the regions, and I look forward to a permanent and continuous absence of conflict in our country as living standards rise generally. I also expect to see the promised constitutional changes of the reduction in the powers of the Executive Presidency and the effective devolution of significant power to the regions, put into effect."

"Although this has not been discussed during the election campaign, I would like to see an independent, efficient and non-political Government Service and much better public private collaboration for the successful economic development of Sri Lanka. This should be linked with real decision making powers being given to provincial and local governments so that they can work effectively with the private sector in the regions to develop local economies in the best interests of local communities."

"From the standpoint of the Hambantota District, I would expect that the major regional projects such as the international port and airport will be brought to successful and speedy completion with as much benefit to local communities as possible. On behalf of local business, the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce should be actively and practically involved in the successful implementation of these projects, using the expertise of its national and international partners to facilitate the process. In the same way, other regional chambers of commerce should be fully involved in the economic development of their respective districts."

The Ceylinco Golden Key Depositors Association, Vice president Dushanthi Hapugoda says that they were intimated for having a meeting with the President before his re election. "We had no political motive unlike the other section that supports the rival candidate," she said.

She says that with the re election of President the depositors can now be assured to receive their dues back.

President Sri Lanka Nepal Business Council Jagath S. Savanadasa said that the comfortable victory is a testimony and validation of his policies and popularity.

This victory has boosted investor confidence and it would lead to more foreign investments country there by further stimulation the economy.

The business community and the citizens of the country have one again showed their faith in democracy. This from our point of view is a healthy trait that augers well for the future of the nation.

It is important for the new government to ensure that the North and the East and specially their citizens are offered every possible opportunity to achieve economic progress and all barriers to such progress removed so that they are equated to other provinces. This in essence echoes democracy.

Essentially promises and policies need to be translated into action and goodwill created all round.