The Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe

¶ 01 Please give me another 30 seconds, Madam Presiding Member.

¶ 02 Also, we are working to involve the University of Jaffna and the private IT university in Jaffna, and to use the mechanisms of the Provincial Councils and Local Authorities to launch a major development programme. That is why there are these cries of pain. Because never again will power be gained on the basis of nationalism, nor by merely speaking about economic issues. We have given high priority to the development of the North and East just as we have for the Monaragala District.

¶ 03 There is also an issue in the calculation of Gross Domestic Product. We must understand that. Production from the North comes to the South and is then exported; therefore, we have already prepared roadmaps to rapidly commence several export-oriented industries in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, especially in agricultural and fisheries value addition. So, you will have to be patient. Beyond this year, you will not have a topic to speak about.

¶ 04 Thank you very much, Hon. Presiding Member, for giving me this opportunity.