February 21, Colombo: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today called on local entrepreneurs to invest in local industries and join in rebuilding the country.

The president made this request during a discussion held at the presidential secretariat this morning (21) with the main businessmen of the country in various fields.

The discussion was convened with the aim of seeking private sector participation in the development process.

Discussions focused on foreign exchange generation, fiscal policy, promotion of overseas employment, investment incentives, export growth, renewable energy, agricultural production, adequate supply of fertilizers, the promotion of tourism and many other sectors.

President Rajapaksa said large-scale investments in a number of sectors, including renewable energy, green agriculture, technology gardens and greenhouses, would provide a great opportunity to control the exchange.

Appreciating the support of local entrepreneurs to build the country, the president said the business community has the ability to correct the misconceptions of some narrow-minded people as the government seeks to rebuild its economy in the face of a global epidemic. .

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa pointed out that the shortage of cement is due to the increase in demand for cement with the revival of the construction sector over the past two years. Minister Basil Rajapaksa said the government is focusing on producing cement entirely in the country in the future.

Emphasizing that there is no shortage of essential commodities in the market, the Minister urged the business community not to take unfair advantage of the decision to deregulate the prices of many commodities except medicines.

Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said the government would take steps to maintain fuel reserves in a way that does not harm development and industry, despite the challenge of securing fuel.

The governor pointed out that the country will lose foreign investment opportunities due to false propaganda about the country’s economy, adding that the government will be able to repay all foreign loans and take measures to attract investment. unrelated to debt.

Entrepreneurs who have praised the government’s Covid control program said their businesses were protected by its success, the president’s media division said. They pointed out that due to the inability of some countries to effectively control the Covid outbreak, Sri Lanka has received a large number of orders due to these countries.

The businessmen, noting that the country is experiencing a huge revival in the tourism sector in the post-Covid period, stressed the need to strengthen tourism facilities for its promotion.

The entrepreneurs also demanded the president to stop the emigration of students for education and establish a mechanism to create such educational opportunities in the country.

Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath, Senior Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance SR Attygalle and many other officials and entrepreneurs representing various sectors participated in the discussion.