“I still haven't lost my job” – Malik
While there are many ongoing discussions and disagreements in the United National Party as to the future of the leadership of the party after last week’s poll, the UNP Chairman, Malik Samarawickrama on Thursday confidently said he still has not lost his job.
Attending the ICT/BPM brand launch of ‘Island of Ingenuity’ as the chief guest at the BMICH, Mr. Samarawickrama made this comment at the beginning of his speech.
“Some of you will be surprised to see that I am here, but I still haven’t lost my job.” The world is getting disrupted due to various innovative solutions, so is Sri Lanka’s government, he added.
The minister stated that Sri Lanka’s IT industry is the most successful one to the economy. He said that Rs. 300 million investment will be made during the year on the ‘ IT Initiative’ which was mentioned in the 2018 Budget. It will be implemented by t he Expor t Development Board for firms to break into new global markets.
He also stated that the ongoing reform efforts have resulted in exports of goods and services growing to US$ 15 billion last year and an all- time high Foreign Direct Investment of approximately $2 billion.
“There is no doubt that Sri Lanka needs a globally competi- tive IT industry as a linchpin in transforming our economy. We are living in an era of exciting digital disruption, an era that promises to usher in great leaps of progress and prosperity, but also challenges old ways and old business models. In this time of flux and of opportunity, Sri Lanka’s ICT/ BPM industry can position itself to offer the kind of new and sophisticated digital services that international businesses require,” he added.
Sri Lanka’s ICT/ BPM sector has come a long way today not because of government, but almost in spite of it, noted Mr. Samarawickrama, who is also the Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade.