An exhibition to showcase the social and economic revolution resulted by introducing of Open Economy system to the country in 1977, will be held from today until Saturday at the National Youth Council, Maharagama,said
United National Party General Secretary and Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim.
He said the exhibition will showcase the visionary path of the next 40-year period while making educating the visitors on the social and economic revolution of the open economy policy of 1977.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will open the exhibition for public at 6 p.m. today. Except today the exhibition will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and there will be musical shows on each day.
The main aim of the exhibition is to make the people aware of social and economic revolution created by the open economy introduced by the 1977 UNP Government under the guidance of former President J.R.Jayewardene.
“Sri Lanka was the first country in Asia to introduce the open economy. With the introduction of the open economy, it could be observed many revolutionary changes in the social and economic aspects,” Minister Hashim said.
“As an outcome of the open economy, the country was subjected to a rapid economic and social development. Accordingly, Free Trade Zones (FTZ), which created thousands of employment opportunities, were also introduced, modern communication systems including mobile technology and television broadcasting system and many more were introduced. Moreover, Sri Lankans can obtain foreign employments as a fruitful outcome of the open economy,” he said.
He added that the agriculture based economy prevailed in the country before 1977 was replaced with the production based economy with the implementation of the open economy. However, the Minister noted that the Government has planned to introduce the social economy system instead of an open economy.
In line with the exhibition, a felicitation ceremony will also be held at 4 p.m today. under the patronage of the Prime Minister to felicitate the members of the 1977 Parliament, which introduced the Open Economy system to the country. At the ceremony, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will also be felicitated as he also represented the 1977 Parliament.