Govt. aiming for $ 6,000 per capita income: President

President Maithripala Sirisena says the aim of his Government is to increase the per capita income of Sri Lankans to $ 6,000 dollars within the next five years.

The President was addressing a ceremony held at the Dehiowita Pradeshiya Sabha auditorium on Monday to distribute the benefits to those involved in the second stage of the Seeeethawaka River Gem Mining Project.

President Sirisena said the Government would launch new industries aiming to increase the per capita income to $ 6,000.

The President asserted that natural resources such as gems contributed significantly to the national economy and the Government had taken a policy decision to distribute the profits earned by the business community as well as the Government from the industry to the low income families in the relevant areas in the future.

At the function, the President symbolically distributed funds worth Rs. 34.2 million among 902 Samurdhi recipients, 165 religious places, differently-abled persons and orphans.

Recalling how the natural resources of the country went into the hands of certain individuals during the previous administration, the President noted that the activities of the State Gem Corporation within the last few years were not satisfactory.

He assured necessary action would be taken to carry forward the Gem Corporation as an establishment without political interference.

Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Mahipala Herath, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Athauda Seneviratne, and National Gem and Jewellery Authority Chairman Anura Gunawardena also participated at the event.