President emphasizes need to eradicate poverty in region
The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was commenced under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo, yesterday (20).
Delegates from BIMSTEC Member States- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are attending this Meeting.
Addressing the Meeting President Maithripala Sirisena said that a strong cooperation programme is needed to eradicate the poverty in the region and to promote prosperity.
The President emphasized the need to make commitment by all of us to eradicate poverty from the human society, not only in the region and recalled the responsibility lies with the world’s powerful nations, to ensure that no one will starve in the world.
President Sirisena said that Sri Lanka’s poverty alleviation programme was implemented in this year and in parallel to this the year 2018 was declared as the National Food Production Year.
The President said that he is pleased to hold this event in Sri Lanka at a time when BIMSTEC region is becoming an important player in the international geopolitics.
The President also emphasized the persistence necessary to achieve the goals of the region in achieving the goal of the BIMSTEC.
Representatives, including the State Minister of Finance and Planning of Bangladesh, Muhammad Abdul Mannan, Bhutan’s Minister of Finance, Lyonpo Namgay Dorji, Myanmar’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Minister of Internal Affairs of Thailand attended the Meeting. Minister of Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage S.B. Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry Sriyani Weerakoon and others participated on this occasion.
(President’s Media)

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all talk no action at least since independence and before independence it did not matter for under colonialism we were nothing more than slaves. This go for the whole of south Asia!
so mr sirirsena where do you plan to start beforefore you even conceive a road map. most likely by the time you draw it up and find the money to implement if at all you will be out of office and your successor will be clueless as to what you had in mind.
The government for the past decades, ade money out of poverty and they wallowed in poverty and most likely they considered it a good thing. Then the NGO’s and non profits saw the opportunities as a means of making a living. Ultimately what have they to show for it nothing for they were moving away from it. TVanguard of poverty alleviation was the UN and they continue to operate it the same objective with corrupt governments!
So Mr sirisena leave the poor alone and don’t start another scam to further your interests and the rest of the clan the poor will look after themselves.
Well said, Zama.
This poverty alleviation is just another scam in the offing. There will soon be a glittering Project with glossy placards bearing the Lilly White’s manicured face, jet black hair and stone studded gold rings adorning pointed fingers. Political catchers, public servants and family will all be in the project attending grand ceremonies to alleviate poverty, all sharing the bountiful booty.
As far as I know, there are only 3 Politicians who did not use power to accumulate wealth. They are:
1. the Late JR Jayawardane
2. the late DB Wijetunge
3. the Hon Ranil Wickremasinghe
The rest are scum of the earth.