Addressing the media briefing on the Cabinet decisions yesterday (26) he said due to the difficulties faced by the small scale tea estate owners due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the government had taken a decision at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting to grant relief measures to them.

He said this in response to a question raised by a journalist.

Under the current circumstances, the Minister noted that not just the small tea estates but many who are engaged in self-employment ventures are facing a dilemma due to the current situation, adding that the decision to grant relief to the people is a policy decision that was taken by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa when he was elected as the President. Therefore, he said that these policies by the president to uplift the domestic agriculture sector and the domestic industries sector would be implemented accordingly with the aim of boosting the local producers and industrialists.

He said that under the current situation, state encouragement would be further strengthened. The minister noted that there are positive developments taking place in the country as a result of the government encouragement, adding that certain items which were imported to the country earlier are now being manufactured by local producers.

Accordingly, face masks, ventilators required by hospitals and other protective gear are now being manufactured locally by the tri forces and other local producers. Minister Pathirana noted that at a time when many countries are facing an acute shortage of face masks, Sri Lanka is producing these masks locally and distributing them among the hospitals without any shortage. He, therefore, noted that this is a huge step towards the future progress of the local economy.

The minister urged the people to conform to the regulations imposed during this period to face the current Covid-19 threat and act with sensitivity. He also noted that there is a sense of self-sufficiency drive in the country, adding that it is vital for the people to focus on strengthening the local economy by contributing towards a self-sufficient economy.