10-year plan vital to stabilise economy: PM

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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday stressed the need for Sri Lanka to have a ten-year development plan to stabilise the economy and that it was time for the people to decide whether they want such a plan without which this country would not prosper.

The Prime Minister said this during a ceremony held to distribute land deeds and titles to people in Anuradhapura.

“This government has faced many challenges since taking office. The Treasury was empty when we took over in 2015 and the country caught up in a debt trap. Then came the floods and the drought. This was followed by the Easter Sunday bombings. Many thought the country will not recover from the 21/4 tragedy. No one dared to come out of their houses. The tourism sector was affected. However, people now come out of their houses without fear. We expect the tourism sector to bounce back by November this year. However the country needs a ten-year plan to stabilise the economy and it is up to the people to decide,” he said.

“Many governments in the world have failed to fulfil the promises they made during the election campaign. Only a few governments are able to keep the promises they make and the current Sri Lankan Government is one such,” he added.

Lands Minister Gayantha Karunatilleke said the government would continue to strive towards enacting the State Lands Special Provisions Bill to give more people the opportunity of owning land.