By Santosh Kumar/All India Radio
Colombo, October 10: The Sri Lankan government has said that political reforms are needed more than economic reforms at this juncture in the country’s history.
Speaking at a function to release the ‘State of Economy’ report here on Tuesday, the Deputy Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Development, Dr.Harsha de Silva, asserted that winning peace is more important than accelerating economic growth in the short term.
The report had projected a dim view of the Sri Lankan economy if political indecision is not ended.
The Sri Lankan economy has grown by around 4 percent in recent times while the target is to increase it to around 8 percent to make it a high middle income country.
Dr.de Silva said that political reforms to wipe off the tears of the thousands affected by three decades of war are urgently needed, and the government is focused on this task.
According to him, the war had shaved off at least 2 percent of GDP growth and that cannot be allowed to recur at any cost.
The present government had inherited the prospect of international economic sanctions and isolation, but this has been stemmed by giving the people freedom of expression; bringing about the 19 th. Constitutional Amendment, and setting up of anti-corruption bodies.
(The featured image at the top is that of Dr.Harsha de Silva)
