President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday appointed a Presidential Task Force for Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication.
It has been established under the powers vested in the President by the Constitution, the President’s Office said.
The Task Force is responsible for reviving the economy and eradication of poverty while paying special attention to the challenges posed and opportunities that have emerged in Sri Lanka in the wake of COVID – 19 outbreak.
Based on the vision of the “Saubhagyaye Dekma” (Vision of Prosperity) policy statement, the Task Force should steer the relevant institutes to create a production economy through the formulation of a unique economic structure based on novel initiatives, the President’s Office said.
The implementation of joint operations to establish a people-centric economy which will promote domestic industrialists and entrepreneurs is another objective of the Task Force.
It has also been tasked with the responsibility of taking measures to distribute products in liaising with all the institutions while paying attention to the activities undertaken by the health and education task forces to maintain normality in the civilian life.
The Task Force is required to inform the President of all instances where any public official, Ministry, State Department, State Corporation or any other similar institution which delays or fails to perform duties and responsibilities assigned to it.
Relevant provisions relating to the Task Force appointed on January 24, 2020 and March 24 on Poverty Alleviation and Livelihood Development and the Presidential Task Force appointed on March 23, 2020 on administration of essential services to continue civilian life which have been identified as high risk zones in the face of COVID- 19 spread will be abolished with the establishment of the new Task Force.
The scope and the responsibilities of the Task Force in charge of Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication will be announced in a gazette notification to be published soon.
Special Representative of the President Basil Rajapaksa will chair the Task Force while Additional Secretaries to the Office of the Prime Minister Anton Perera and D. S. Jayaweera will function as Co- Secretaries.