Due to the success of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, our country is being recognized internationally as one of the best destinations for tourism and the increase in tourist arrivals to our country is good for uplifting the economy, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
“According to Fitch Ratings, our country is on the verge of bankruptcy. However, due to the vaccination programme implemented by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to control Covid-19, we are currently ranked third among the most suitable countries for travel,” he said.
He added that a hike in tourist arrivals is also a sign that our economy is doing well.
The Minister was speaking at a function held recently at the Beliatta Vocational Training Centre to provide equipment required for the CFC-free Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Course by the National Ozone Unit of the Environment Ministry.
The Minister donated equipment worth Rs. 3.1 million to the Beliatta Vocational Training Centre.
“Today there is a huge economic collapse in our country. It is not a problem of the present Government. Every Government elected after 1948 is responsible for this situation. In fact, the real economic collapse of our country took place only after 1977. It was only after 1977 that the productive economic system of our country was destroyed,” Minister Amaraweera said.
“When Sirimavo Bandaranaike took over the country in 1970, the dollar was worth Rs. 9. When she handed over the country in 1977 the value of the dollar was reduced to Rs. 7. But by 1985 the dollar had surpassed Rs. 116. It is not possible to say exactly how much the dollar is worth today,” the Minister said.
“Every Government since 1977 has run the economy on foreign debt. Today we have to face the result of the deactivation of the National Production Programme introduced by former Premier Sirimavo Bandaranaike,” he said.
“Although no foreign loans were taken during the tenure of the current President, every Government that came to power after 1977 took loans. They found it difficult to manage the country’s economy,” the Minister said.
“But the Government’s vaccination drive to control the Covid-19 pandemic has been successful. President Rajapaksa deserves credit for the success of this vaccination programme. Therefore, even international organizations have declared that Sri Lanka is currently the third most suitable destination for travel in the world,” he said.
“Therefore, I am confident that the tourism industry in our country will grow further in the near future. The growth of the tourism industry is a very good sign that our country is recovering from the current economic downturn,” he said.
