The private sector lauded government thinking on the economy with the launch of the Vision 2025 policy document.
“Sri Lanka needs a lot of corrections in fundamentals such as the BOP and this policy document is in the right direction to make the necessary corrections. We need to appreciate the Vision 2025 policy framework,” Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA) Senior Consultant for Ports and Airports, Rohan Masakorala said.
Though the war ended in 2009, we yet have the war mentality. We always think that the war was our problem. However, we need to have stable policies and a stable government with the unity government coming into power, he said.
“The two major parties working together is a big achievement and we need to create national and international platform to project the country globally.
The country needs stable policies for the next 10 years and we need to achieve the next level of growth to move forward from the middle income trap,” he said.
“Stability of the country is essential to go forward. It will be created for the national government to make Sri Lanka a prosperous country integrating trade, economy and social justice,” Masakorala said.
Speaking to Sunday Observer, National Chamber of Exporters President Ramal Jasinghe said that Vision 2025 is an ambitious vision and it is an inclusive economic development procedure.
“The policy framework is a well thought process. However, we need the necessary reforms such as ease of doing business, support entrepreneurs, and support exporters which will help arrive towards sustainable brand for Sri Lanka,” he said.
“We fully extend our support to the Vision 2025 to become it a reality”, Jasinghe said.
The objectives of the Vision 2025 are achievable. The positive steps taken towards reconciliation and building sustainable Sri Lankan brand with the support of the entrepreneurs will make Sri Lanka a rich country, he said.
Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Senior Economist Anushka Wijesingha said, “The Vision 2025 document emphasized the fact that Sri Lanka has always been an export economy. Except that we’ve become less export focused over the years. Exports used to be over 30% of GDP, and now it’s around 15%. An important Initiative being taken now to reverse this is the National Export Strategy.
“This has gone through a very robust and extensive Consultative process, with active participation by private sector and public sector. Identified priority sectors, strategic and operational objectives, and priority actions. It has a good vision as well, which is ‘Sri Lanka: An Export Hub driven by innovation and investment’. We as the Ceylon chamber are fully behind it, and are a member of the core team shaping this initiative,” he said.