President Sirisena pointed out that the special attention of the private sector should be drawn to manufacture new productions needed for the today’s commercial world while paying their attention to the traditional export industry. The President further said that the government is ready to provide its fullest support in this regard.

He said this in his address at the Presidential Export Awards Ceremony 2015 held at the Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) Theatre in Colombo on Wednesday (16).

He also stressed that the growth rate of the export industry of a country is the foundation of the national economy of that country and said that it is the responsibility of a government to strengthen the export entrepreneurs as well as provide the necessary guidance to them and to provide required technical knowledge.

He added that the government is prepared to understand the shortfalls in the export sector and find solutions to them.

The President also said that the new government has established a separate Ministry to fulfill the duty of strengthening the export industry while broadening the strategic economic development methods and providing necessary knowledge and facilities to achieve that purpose.

President Maithripala Sirisena presented awards for 24 institutions which rendered a great service to the export industry of the country.

Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade- Malik Samarawickrama, Ministers Harin Fernando, Daya Gamage, State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe, Ms. Indira Malwatte Chief Executive of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and others participated in the event.