PM THANKS PAST SLFP-LED GOVTS. FOR CONTINUING MARKET ECONOMY
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday thanked the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) leaders including those in the Rajapaksa regime who continued the market economy as and when they came to power.
The Premier came out with these words of gratitude at the opening of the exhibition organized to mark the completion of 40 years since the introduction of the open economy at Youth Centre, Maharagama last evening.
“The open economy was introduced by late President J. R. Jayewardene but his successors also continued it. Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga also continued with it while some of those who were in the Rajapaksa regime did the same. I would like to thank all of them for it,” PM Wickremesinghe said.
Also he said other leaders of the UNP which took over from President Jayewardene, including Presidents Ranasinghe Premadasa and D. B. Wijetunga also continued the same economic policy.
The present regime led by President Maithripala Sirisena is also committed to continue the market economy and to correct its shortcomings. “We, together with our common candidate, were committed to this task and are ready now to take the nation forward with the new phase of the market economy,” he added.
“Late President J. R. Jayewardene introduced the market economy in 1977 after the famous revolution of the UNP. He brought about a social and political change. There was a change in Asia as well and there came a revolution in the region” He said.
Relatives of those who played major roles in introducing the open economy, including former Presidents JR, Premadasa, late Gamini Dissanayake, Ronnie de Mel, Lalith Athulathmudali, Ranjan Wijeratne, former chairman of the party, late Harsha Abeywardene, former general secretaries Nandala Fernando and Ranjan Wijeratne were felicitated by awards being presented to their relatives.