I have a special team to implement our plan : Gotabaya Rajapaksa

COLOMBO(News 1st) - Presidential Candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressed several public rallies today (October 16). Representatives of parties supporting SLPP, Civil Organizations and party members attended the public rally that was held at the Balangoda Urban Council grounds this morning. Gotabaya Rajapaksa noted that they could increase the export of tea if they could increase the tea production in Sri Lanka. He added that the only way to increase their sales were to increase the standards of their tea production. He went on to note that in order to get everything started they have to start with increasing the daily wage of estate workers to Rs 1000. He added that they would increase the estate workes wage to Rs 1000 to make Sri Lankan tea the best tea in the world. In addition, he added that he would compensate and implement tax relieves for massive tea factories that had been closed. He said that they would prevent importing pepper and start exporting them. He further added that they would establish a centre called the One Stop Shop, to solve all issues pertaining to the gem industry in one place. "We will also make it easy for you to obtain licenses. As a government, we will maintain a flexible tax policy. We will also reduce the tax to 8%. We have proved what we can do. So the plan that we have is a practical one. We have a good vision and I have a team that can implement the plan we have drafted. I'm ready to give leadership to that" he added. Another rally in Pelmadulla was presided by Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Gotabaya Rajapaksa noted that he would make the country secure by handing over the authorization for the intelligence units once again. He added that he knows that miners are facing various difficulties and he would look into them and update the system to flexibly offer license. He also promised that he would make Ratnapura the gem centre and assured that he would make Sri Lanka a safe place to live. Gotabaya Rajapaksa recalled a past incident when he addressed the tea factory owners last evening. The presidential candidate noted that when the war was escalating in 2007, rice was scarce in the country. He recollected how the President sent ministers all over the world and the people then said that they can't consume the type of rice that was brought to the country which was a huge issue.