Agri-based economy to be focus of President-led development program

• State Minister of Finance says UNP and SLFP have different approaches to development 
• President to launch new poverty alleviation program focusing on three different sectors

Citing ideological differences between the two parties in the coalition government, the SLFP on Wednesday announced that it would focus on developing an agri-based economy in the country, with plans to launch a series of programs led by the President. 

“We are not able to shape the market like Singapore. This is not a trade and exchange-based economy, Singapore does not have an agriculture-based economy. We cannot follow that model in Sri Lanka. We have to focus on agriculture in this country,” State Finance Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana stated. 

The Minister asserted that the approaches to development taken by the SLFP and UNP differed, claiming that the SLFP was focused on a service and agriculture-based economy while the UNP had a different agenda focused on the private sector.

“What we did for the last two years is to merge the two agendas in a way to suit the public. 

There may be different conflicts arising from such situations,” the Minister claimed. 

However, indicating that the SLFP would give more weight to furthering economic development based on their approach, Abeywardana claimed that the party was set to make a number of “radical political and economic” decisions in the new year. 

As a part of the impending change, the SLFP is to launch a new program to develop agriculture and alleviate poverty led by President Maithripala Sirisena, the Minister said.    

“The President’s nine-point plan to uplift the agriculture-based economy has been developed based on the SLFP approach to an agriculture-based economy. This will focus on how an agri-based economy can contribute to a sustainable economy. The President has already given instructions on how it should be handled,” he said. 

The President has also invited Andra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu to share his experience with Lankan politicians on focusing on agriculture-based development. 

“We want to learn from the Indian model. It was during his time that the state was developed both in the agricultural and tech sectors, so his experience will be valuable,” Abeywardana added.