Business chambers hailed the appointment of Mangala Samaraweera as the finance minister and said that his experience as a senior minister for several decades will certainly help to create a better economy.
President, National Chamber of Exporters, Ramal Jasinghe said that Mangala Samaraweera as the foreign minister did a creditable job by helping Sri Lanka to regain the GSP+ which would help to boost exports. “Through the new minister we hope to work more closely with Sri Lankan foreign missions overseas and promote local exports.”
National Chamber of Commerce President Sujeeva Samaraweera said that while welcoming the new finance minister they hope that he would look at financial matters in a ‘thinking cap’. “His experience gained as the foreign minister and this long experience as a politician would be an asset to the country.”
With the vision of new hope and aspiration of the President, the Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) Chairman Reeza Rauf welcomed the appointment and congratulate Mangala Samaraweera as the New Minister Finance, “We have no doubt that with his vast experience and exposure that he will move the economy forward for a better Sri Lanka,” the CMTA said.
President, Vehicle Importers Association of Lanka (VIAL), Sampath Merenchige said they view the new appointment as a very positive move. While wishing the new Finance Minister all success, Merenchige urged the merger of the different arms of the finance ministry functioning separately now for a much efficient outcome.
Also he requested to ensure the appointment of skilled officials who were capable of making correct economic policy decisions to the top spots of the ministry.
Commenting on the motor industry Merenchige said at a time the country was facing a serious foreign currency crisis one could expect a reduction in size and scope of the trade. However he expressed optimism that when the overall economic situation improves in the country it will also have a positive impact on the motor industry as well.
He however insisted that the lending rate at the moment was too high which has an adverse affect on businessmen.
He therefore urged Finance Minister Samaraweera to reduced interest rates on lending and maintaining it in the range of 9-10% to promote more investments in the country.
The new minister would also be able to able to work very closely with foreign investors and he would also be able to get support from the Sri Lankan foreign embassies.
Chairman, Colombo Chamber of Commerce Dr. Amila Kankanamge said that Samaraweera is a seasoned politician coming from grass-roots levels and his experience as a veteran politician would help to iron out some of the current issues that are stagnating.
“We are confident that Samaraweera would do something tangible for Sri Lanka’s SME sector which is the back bone of the economy.”
The National Movement for Consumer Protection Chairman, Ranjith Vithanage while congratulating Finance Minister Samaraweera said that that they hope the new minister would take steps to remove some of the unwanted taxes that were imposed on consumers.
He said that there were several ‘uncalled for taxes’ imposed by the previous minister which was not welcomed. “We hope the new minister would remove some of them,” he opined,
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