President urges to expedite relief for businesses affected by terror attacks

President Maithripala Sirisena today instructed relevant officials to expedite relief assistance to tourism and other sectors which were affected by the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

He emphasized that it is the responsibility of everyone to properly and efficiently implement the relief programmes necessary for the businesses in the tourism sector and other affiliated sectors which were crippled by the Easter Sunday attacks and to help them rebuild.

He made this observation during a discussion with representatives of small and medium scale business associations held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today (4).

The President’s Media Division said that officials from the Tourism Ministry, Finance Ministry, Trade Ministry and relevant departments participated in the meeting while the difficulties faced by the country’s business community was extensively discussed.

The President directed his attention towards the issue regarding the failure of state institutions to properly implement the instructions of the Finance Ministry and Central Bank on providing relief for these businesses despite the appointment of a Cabinet sub-committee on the matter. 

The President stated that he will discuss the issue with the sub-committee as well as at the next Cabinet meeting and formalize the relief process.

Tourism Minister John Amaratunga, officials from the Finance Ministry, Trade Ministry, Central Bank and other institutions participated in the discussion.