Basil Rajapaksa should enter Parliament soon and make a comprehensive contribution to the economic development process, Company Estate Reforms, Tea Estate Related Crops, Tea Factory Modernization and Tea Export Promotion State Minister Kanaka Herath said.

The State Minister made this statement while addressing the Rambukkana electoral committee meeting (Aasana Bala Mandalaya) of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna held at the public  market there with the participation

of a large gathering to coincide with the fourth convention of the SLPP.

State Minister Herath pointed out that Basil Rajapaksa was currently taking the lead in the country’s economic development work and that he could provide a more efficient and effective service to the country by being in Parliament.

All members of the SLPP were looking forward to Basil’s arrival in Parliament as he had the potential to serve the country in a more formal and efficient manner as a member of the Legislature, Herath said.

Commenting on the political process in the country, the State Minister said that the country should move beyond the traditional political pattern and accordingly the country should be at the forefront before the party. Accordingly, the Legislature had a special responsibility to fulfill the aspirations of the people and the country, he said, adding that Basil Rajapaksa could come to Parliament and lead the parliamentary group and strengthen the current course of government.

Commenting on the revival of the tea and rubber industries, the State Minister said that the current year’s budget had allocated the largest ever amount for the development of tea and rubber sector. Allocating such a huge amount had created an opportunity to develop the agricultural economy along with the manufacturing economy.

Through that, a subsidy of Rs. 250,000 per acre would be provided to tea and rubber growers for drip irrigation for the first time. Besides tea cultivation subsidy had been increased from Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 750,000 per acre while the subsidy on rubber cultivation per acre was Rs 500,000, State Minister Herath said.

Commenting on the physical development of the Kegalle District, he said that all the bus driven roads had already been carpeted by now. Rural roads were being developed and constructed by laying concrete or carpet.

He emphasized that no matter what the Opposition said, the programme to build the country would be carried out as the people expected in line with the “Vision for the Prosperity” policy statement.

State Ministers Janaka Wakkumbura, Roshan Ranasinghe, Parliamentarian Rajika Wickramasinghe, Sudath Manjula and many others were present at the meeting.