Prime Minister made these remarks attending a function to provide compensation to flood affected tea smallholders of Galle District.

In 2014, the government deficit between income and expenditure was 1.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product while it reduced to 0.2 percent by 2016. Therefore the country is confident of enjoying a surplus income by 2020 said the Prime Minister.

He said, during 2005-2014 the debt increased by 233% and it was not grants but commercial debt. The income was not sufficient to pay the debt, but due to the policy decisions taken by President Maithripala Sirisena and the Unity government, the country was able to increase the income, he added.