The Minister said, Gamperaliya scheme will be the primary focus of the governments economic agenda over the next two years and the government hopes to organize the exhibition every three months covering many parts of the country.
Accordingly, the second and third editions of Enterprise Sri Lanka, Gamperaliya exhibition will be held in Anuradhapura and Jaffna.The minister was speaking at a press briefing to introduce Enterprise Sri Lanka, Gamperaliya Exhibition at the Finance Ministry yesterday.According to the minister the event will comprise 515 stalls and will see the participation of 204 corporate sector people both home and abroad.
Minister Samaraweera also revealed that the government under the Gamperaliya program has already set aside Rs 200 million per electorate for the next four months and intends to inject more money into the rural economy particularly for the development of rural roads, rural markets, and other public works under this program.
According to the Minister, the government hopes to provide close to Rs 32 billion for the Gamperaliya program for the next four months and said this year budget to be presented to Parliament will provide more funds to make this project a success in the coming years.
Speaking on reason behind selecting Moneragala as the first venue for the Enterprise Sri Lanka Gamperaliya exhibition, the Minister said, the district is suffering from acute poverty levels all these years and the main objective of the government is to take the development to the grass root level in Moneragala district and empower them.
Commenting on Enterprise Sri Lanka initiative, the Minister said the government has understood the needs of a new breed of young entrepreneurs and has put in place the necessary financial frameworks to support them. Enterprise Sri Lanka will be an ideal platform to create a conductive environment with fair and equal opportunities for the budding local entrepreneurs to contribute to the countrys development.
In addition, the government will be conducting a series of programs across the country to take the message of Enterprise Sri Lanka and Gamperaliya to the people.Entrepreneurship is something that is in our DNA. During the pre and post-colonial period, Sri Lanka had maintained robust global trade and entrepreneurial engagement with the rest of the world, the Minister said.
The Minister also said the government has embarked on an ambitious development revolution based on two important pillars, democracy and reconciliation.