Samagi Jana Balawegaya-led alliance’s presidential candidate, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa says that a data-centric scientific approach should be implemented to strengthen Sri Lanka’s economy.

He emphasized that it is essential to calculate the contribution of each district and regional level to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In a meeting with the business community and experts held in Anuradhapura, Premadasa highlighted the economic disparities across the country.

“Economically, the country is largely divided. There is a wide gap between the rich and the poor”, said the SJB’s Presidential candidate.

He further stated that some provinces are economically strengthened while others lag significantly behind.

“When we look at the numbers, we can be happy about the contribution of various provinces to the economic growth apart from the Western Province. If a leader needs to recover the country’s economy, that person should immediately order to measure the economic output of each district that is given to the country’s GDP”, said Sajith Premadasa.

He also stated that the data should then be refined further at the Divisional Secretariat level and if the calculations are done accurately and properly, the resources, problems and, deficiencies of those areas can be identified where it can be used to implement a scientific plan in a data-centric manner.

“Let’s honestly think in a new way and go on a new journey”, said Premadasa.