Amunugama calls for less dependence on traditional exports

Minister of Special Assignments Dr. Sarath Amunugama who deputised the President at the inauguration of the 33rd Annual Sessions of the Geological Society of Sri Lanka, held at Gannoruwa on 24 February, declared that it was the duty of all Sri Lankan geologists to identify within the next 10 years all the geological and oceanic resources of Sri Lanka and to give guidance for their commercial exploitation for the benefit of the country. 

The minister said that one of the first things that Chairman Mao Tse-tung did after the Chinese revolution was to initiate a survey of the geological resources of China. Dr. Amunugama said that it was a tragedy that we have not yet been able to exploit even 25% of our geological and oceanic resources, even though surrounded as we are by the sea.

In the present competitive world we can no longer depend on our traditional exports declared the Minister. He said that in the circumstances it is the duty of everyone concerned to identify all our natural resources and to arrange for the highest value to be obtained for them in the world market. The minister however cautioned that in this endeavour we should lay aside the prevailing myth that everything must be done by the state, and instead encourage everyone who has the capacity to do so, to invest in industrial ventures to exploit and add value to our resources.

At the commencement of his speech the minister paid a tribute to the late Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy who pioneered geological research in Sri Lanka and who in the course of his travels throughout the country for that purpose, not only identified the country’s geological wealth but also laid bare before the world the elements of an ancient culture then in decline and did the country an immense service thereby. The minister also thanked on behalf of the President and on his own behalf, all Sri Lankan geologists who are serving the country in their varied fields.