Ruwanwella (September 17, 2024) — Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People’s Party has unveiled an ambitious plan to strengthen Sri Lanka’s economy, aiming to generate $5 billion through the information technology sector while creating 500,000 software engineering jobs.
Speaking at a public rally in Ruwanwella, Dissanayake emphasized the need to rebuild the economy and outlined his strategy for rapid growth in key sectors. “We need to build the economy, and while it will take some time for a significant expansion, we can immediately generate a major boost in tourism. By bringing in 4 million tourists, we can create an economy worth $8 billion,” Dissanayake said.
He continued by detailing his vision for the IT sector, noting that Sri Lanka’s current IT export economy stands at $1.2 billion. “We aim to increase this to $5 billion and train 200,000 software engineers within the country,” he stated, adding that advanced human resources should be sent abroad to further boost the nation’s economic prospects.
Dissanayake also addressed plans to revitalize the agricultural and fishing industries. He criticized the previous government’s decisions, particularly the removal of fertilizer subsidies, and vowed to subsidize fishermen to reduce their losses. He expressed his commitment to self-sufficiency, promising that if Sri Lankan farmers can meet domestic demand for onions, he will stop all onion imports.
He further assured that Sri Lanka will only import rice required for the tourism industry, declaring, “We will not bring in a single grain of rice from abroad beyond that.”
With these plans, Dissanayake aims to reshape Sri Lanka’s economy by leveraging technology, tourism, and local industries for sustainable growth.
