He stated this today in Parliament speaking at the Committee stage debate on the budget 2016.

During the past exports have decreased from 32 percent to 14 percent. Services Exports have decreased by 5%. Due to reduction in exports we had to take loans. But this situation cannot go on any longer. Export development is very important to create employment opportunities. Therefore they have taken many steps to promote exports and a task force for promoting of exports will be established, he said.

We will establish export zones in Jaffna,Trincomalee and Kilinochchi. China was a poor country. But by introducing new economic policies, today China has become one of world's largest economies, he said.

The new government has taken several steps to increase exports and a task force too will be established for this matter. Attractive investment opportunities will be created, through the Export Development Board, he added.