COLOMBO (News 1st) –  Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe said that as a policy it is accepted that a government should not be running businesses, except that the government will stay in the financial sector.

He said on Thursday (23) that the government will build the state-owned banks and make them stronger, however, they will be operated as commercial banks.

"We won't mind giving a part of the minority shares to the deposit holders,' said the President adding that it will bring some discipline.

He said the future digital economy will be export oriented with social protection, which is also environmentally friendly for a Blue-Green economy.

"We need to go ahead. We can't be begging anymore and we can't be asking for countries for loans any more. We have to learn to stand on our own feet. I certainly don't like to recreate a beggar nation," said the President.

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