Sri Lanka needs China's help to upgrade - PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka needs the support of China to upgrade it's industries.

Speaking to China's CGTN, Prim Minister Gunawardena said that despite the country's great geographical advantages, Sri Lanka would remain confined to traditional industries such as tea, rubber and coconut without the help and support of China. 

"We are the last important island south of India in the Indian Ocean. We're on the maritime lanes between Africa, Arabia and East Asia. So many thousands of different shipping lanes, traders, business enterprises shuttle across and anchor in Sri Lanka. So Sri Lanka has been historically an important place for all these countries. We must take off to a new stage of development," stressed the Prime Minister.

He added that Sri Lanka has had the support of China to create new areas of development. "Otherwise we are on traditional areas like Tea, Rubber and Coconut. The COVID caused a serious setback in Sri Lanka's economy followed by the economic crisis and slowdown in the World," said the Prime Minister.