Speaking to media on Monday, the Deputy Minister said the Prime Minister has presented a basic program that will pave the way for the largest economic uplift in the recent history and called the program an economic reform of the third generation.

He said the midterm economic policy, which is a continuation of the economic policies of former President J.R. Jayawardena, presents the necessary reforms to create a highly competitive socio economic market.

Speaking about the retirement programs, the Deputy Minister dismissed reports that the government is planning to privatize the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and the Employees' Trust Fund (ETF). Instead the government will introduce a new national pension scheme by merging the two funds, he said.