He made this observations on Wednesday (23) in Parliament, joining the debate on six finance resolutions moved by the government.

He further said the previous government attempted to develop Sri Lanka as a service economy, without which we cannot develop the economy to its fullest capacity. The exports contribute 11 percent of the Gross Domestic Product said the Minister and added that the tea and garment industries constitute the largest share of Sri Lanka’s exports.

Minister Wickramaratne further pointed out that "we have to develop industries to develop export. The country need to manufacture new products, set up factories and find new markets for this purpose."

He also added that Sri Lanka had to add value to its exports and that Sri Lanka should develop its economy, not by sending parents overseas for foreign employment. “We have to develop a system to export our products, instead of sending our parents as foreign employees", the Minister emphasised..