COLOMBO: Addressing the 30 year development plan of the Colombo North Port workshop, on Friday (21) in Colombo, President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the government’s intention is to make Sri Lanka an air and sea hub in the region. The country has to focus on its future in the next 25 years on how to make Sri Lanka a developed country, he added.
The President also stressed that the attention should be drawn to the development in India, Pakistan, Iran, and the entire Makran coast, in assessing the role that Sri Lanka.
President Wickremesinghe also highlighted the adjustments to be taken in making Sri Lanka the hub of the Indian Ocean when the whole logistics and transportation in the region changes with the Chinese involvement in the East to West Railways in the African nation.
The President also revealed that by 2050, India will be the most populous country in the world from 1.4 billion increasing to 1.7 billion people. The industrialization of India is on a fast track, especially in some areas such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and especially Tamil Nadu.
Highlighting the importance of probing the development in India to find the connectivity that’s going to take place between India and Sri Lanka, President Wickremesinghe pointed out the opportunities that Sri Lanka would receive.
This event was attended by Minister of Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Chief of Staff to the President and Senior Adviser on National Security Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Mr. K. D. S. Ruwanchandra, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Port Authority Mr. Keith D. Bernard, Directors of AECOM Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd, Past Chairmen of the Port Authority and other Senior officials.
Following is the full speech made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the 30 Year Development plan of the North Port of Colombo workshop on Friday (21) at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).
I must first commend the Minister and the Sri Lanka Port Authority for the work they have done. This ministry is now called the Ministry of Shipping and Aviation. Some people have asked me why don’t we split it and have two Ministries, one for shipping and one for aviation. I said no, our intention is to make Sri Lanka an air and sea hub. So we will have one Ministry of Shipping and Aviation. So we’ve got to think differently and I think the Minister is the best person to be in charge.
