President: 2017 aims at poverty alleviation

of environmental conservation in the process of accomplishing the economic development.

He said that it was essential that the guidance of experts and professionals was followed in all the sectors in managing the sustainable development policies.

“The monetary policies and management of the future development initiatives, which are aimed at the development of physical resources with proper environmental evaluation, should move forward in a successful manner,” the President said.

He said the importance of implementing a national programme jointly with the financial institutions including the Central Bank, the Ministry of Environment and other relevant institutions on environmental conservation.

“Even though the country has to face different kinds of economic challenges due to the global economic crisis, the Government has given priority to the welfare of the underprivileged people,” President Maithripala Sirisena said addressing the inaugural session of the Workshop on “Sustainable Finance” organized by the Central Bank at the Central Bank Auditorium, on Tuesday (28).

The workshop was jointly with the Sustainable Banking Network (SBN) managed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group,

During his address the President noted that 30 percent of the country’s population faced serious economic difficulties and the Government had declared the year 2017 as the year for the poverty alleviation on behalf of those people.

He said that the Government expected the support of all in the financial sector for the success of the programme. The President also pointed out the importance