SRI LANKA - Ministry of Finance and Planning

VISION
GROWTH ALONE DOES NOT MEAN
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
The Mahinda Chintana vision is based on the economic philosophy that
the growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) alone would not bring
economic prosperity to the society. The Mahinda Chintana Goal (MCG) is
to increase the GDP to provide benefits to every segment of society in a
justifiable manner. The creation of prosperity to the majority of the people
who cannot purely rely on market based solutions requires connectivity
through roads, electricity, telecommunications, information technology,
education and health services. Hence, the development strategy relies not
only on promoting investments on infrastructure based on commercial
and economic returns but also on the creation of equitable access to
such infrastructure development to enable people to engage in gainful
economic activities.
Towards this end, providing electricity to all, popularizing mobile usage
among all people, establishing Nanasala (IT centers) in remote villages
and developing the rural and agricultural road network (Maga Neguma),
have made a revolutionary transformation in the rural economy. Providing
benefits through wider networking is supported by equally important
rural centric development programmes such as rural irrigation projects,
community water supply projects, storage and marketing facilities and
financing and credit facilities.
Sri Lanka - The Emerging Wonder of Asia
The Mahinda Chintana philosophy is such that the empowering people
must move hand-in-hand with the development in family values as well as
vulnerabilities of women, children, and elderly are contained. It also places
greater emphasis on the upliftment of moral values and liberating people
from using narcotics and drugs (Mathata Thitha). This holistic approach
will enable the entire society to reach new heights in their overall living
standards.
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