(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – A knowledge based economy could be easily created in the Gampaha district as the people in it are much concerned about education, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said yesterday.
He said that hence an Engineering Faculty and Information Technology Faculty would be established at the Kelaniya University to provide local people with more opportunities to continue their education.
He made these observations addressing an election rally held at Minuwangoda, Gampaha.
Rajapaksa said that the SLPP election manifesto had been presented to the public. These policies were prepared with the participation of all stake holders including scholars, entrepreneurs, the general public. The views of the SLFP too are included in it and all would be fulfilled during his tenure.
Rajapaksa said that the people wanted a guarantee of the security of the country. “We had done so by ending the three decade war,” he said. “But under this government again terrorism raised its head because the government did not heed the intelligence services. The government weakened the intelligence agencies. But we assure you that we will not allow any kind of terrorism to raise its head in the country.”
He said that the SLPP had a clear vision to empower the youth. The youth should be educated and imparted with knowledge to join the fast developing economy in the Asian Region. To achieve this target the investment in education will be increased to absorb all the GCE (A/L) passed students.
He also said that the youth in the country’s IT sector brought in Rs 1 billion annually. “We will invest to educate the youth and raise that revenue up to Rs. 3 billion easily,” Rajapaksa said.
He said that the SLPP had clear vision for the development of the agrarian sector and uplift the farmers who make up around one third of the population. He added that a future SLPP government would grant fertilizer subsidies to the farmers to empower them. “We will introduce technology to cultivation to get the farmers out of the vicious circle of poverty,” Rajapaksa said.
He also said that the pepper, coconut, rubber tea cultivators were currently facing difficulties due to the low prices. He added that the best spice crops in the world are produced by Sri Lanka. So these sectors have much potential for development.
Rajapaksa further said that measures will taken to initiate a mechanism enabling youth to have access to middle class lifestyle.
