Gotabaya Rajapaksa says local industries will be prioritized

COLOMBO (News1st):- Presidential Candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Gotabaya Rajapaksa attended a series of rallies in the Matale district today (October 27). At Matale today, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was welcomed with a warm reception despite the heavy rains that affected the area. Addressing the masses gathered at the rally, he said:

"According to our plan we will give priority to local industries. We have the best plants in the world. But the prices of these fell in the global markets. That is why you cannot get a good price for these and they are currently in storage. The government must intervene to get a good market for this. We must be able to get a good market for Ceylon tea and Ceylon pepper. We must do some value addition to these products like pepper. The government must intervene and conduct experiments on how the yield can be increased. Experiments can be done on how these can be dried using modern methods. This is how we can put a good product into the market and get a higher price for it. We must also look into how these goods are transported and how these goods are stored. This is how we can improve the quality of our goods and get a good price for it. Our professionals have examined these and that is how we know these things. If we create a good market for these people can get involved in the industry as a sole proprietor and directly contribute to our economy through that. This is our policy."

Attending another rally in Rattota, Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that he will ensure the national security in the country.

"In the past, we increased security in the country. This cabinet of ministers who have no idea on national security caved into foreign influence and pressure from NGOs and destroyed the dignity of our military. They destroyed the security mechanism that we had put in place. They made unfounded allegations against members of the intelligence community and sent them to jail. In the past, we used the Police, the CID, and the Criminal Investigations Department to find details on national security. But when this government came into power they used it to go after political rivals. This is the main reason. These people did not give any attention to national security and the safety of the general public. But under our government, we will give back the war heroes their dignity and fix the mentality of the tri forces, the police, and intelligence units, and make this country a safe place again. I can tell you that we are the only people who can ensure national security in this country. We care about national security, we care about the war heroes, we care about the police, and we care about the intelligence units." 

Also attending another campaign rally in Laggala, the SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa said:

"Today professional, intellectuals, businessmen and farmers have fallen down. That is why the general public is rallying against this government. While continuing the programs that we started we have presented a clear plan on how we can develop our economy with the new trends in global economics. Look at the gem industry. If we develop this industry from the point that the gems are mined and polished, we can bring in a massive amount of foreign revenue. We have burdened the miners unnecessarily. We have to make the process of obtaining licenses easier."