Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication established
Posted on April 22nd, 2020
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a Presidential Task Force in charge of Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication, the President’s Media Division said.
It said the new Task Force has been established under the powers vested in the President by the Constitution.
“The Task Force is responsible for reviving the economy and eradication of poverty while paying special attention to the challenges posed and opportunities emerged in Sri Lanka in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. Based on the vision of the Saubhagyaye Dekma”, 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. 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 institutes while paying attention to the activities undertaken by the health and education task forces to maintain normalcy 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 institute which delays or fails to perform duties and responsibilities assigned by 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 Mr. Anton Perera and D. S. Jayaweera will function as Co- Secretaries,” it said.
April 23rd, 2020 at 2:01 am
Is this what the PM has proposed?. As per 19A the Prez is only a rubber stamp and Task Force’s mandate technically expires on 2nd June, unless of course MCC becomes a reality, I believe.
Or is it going to be another thing like Samurdi?. I think the Samurdi has done a tremendous job to eradicate poverty when we look at the people who were lined up to receive the money all over the country except the jungle areas where there is human elephant conflict and farmers are unable to cultivate. To my estimation about 75% of men and women are obese. In fact the GMOA and MOH officials will have a tougher time than combating Covid-19 in few years to come in handling the diabetic, blood pressure etc in those people.