Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that one of the Government’s key objectives is to ensure economic democracy by making entrepreneurship a driving force in the country’s economic growth and national development.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in the “Ruhunu Abhiman 2026” Entrepreneur Awards Ceremony, according to the Prime Minister’s Media Division.
The “Ruhunu Abhiman 2026” Entrepreneur Awards Ceremony, organised jointly by the Matara District Chamber of Industries and Commerce and the National Enterprise Development Authority, was held in Weligama with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
Addressing the occasion, the Prime Minister stated that, building on the economic stability achieved in the country over the past two years, this year’s Budget has presented a programme to establish a production-based economy over the next three years as a means of strengthening economic democracy.
She further noted that the Budget includes a range of measures to bring all segments of society into the economic mainstream and ensure the equitable distribution of the benefits generated through economic growth, the statement said.
Highlighting the significant contribution of the entrepreneurial community to the national economy through job creation, increased incomes, strengthening domestic industries and introducing new products and services, the Prime Minister emphasised the need to strengthen the entrepreneurship sector to build a productivity-driven, export-oriented and resilient economy capable of withstanding challenges, particularly in a country such as Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of entrepreneurs moving beyond the domestic market and producing high-quality goods and services that can compete in international markets. In this regard, she stressed the need to adopt environmentally friendly and sustainable business models and make effective use of modern technology in business operations. She also spoke about how digital marketing, digital payments and data-driven business management can enhance business efficiency.
The Prime Minister stated that the Government aims to expand opportunities and facilities to every part of the country to enable small and medium-sized enterprises to grow and strengthen regional economies. Emphasising the importance of promoting women’s entrepreneurship, she also highlighted the need to create an enabling business environment by removing barriers faced by women in accessing finance, technology, business networks and markets.
Further, the Prime Minister stated that under the new education reforms scheduled to be introduced for Grade 6 from next year, Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship are planned to be introduced as new subject areas from Grade 6 onwards. She noted that the Government expects to provide all children with knowledge of financial literacy and entrepreneurship through this initiative.
She clarified that the Government’s objective is not to turn every child into an entrepreneur, but rather to ensure that every citizen has a basic understanding of financial literacy. The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of nurturing a generation equipped with such knowledge, noting that this is essential for the country’s economic transformation.
