The meeting provided an opportunity to table issues and challenges faced by Sri Lankan entrepreneurs. Speaking at the meeting, the President pointed out that the the government is working on the theme "Local Entrepreneurs should be strengthened if a State is to rise up" and noted that the previous regime has issued 16 licenses to foreign companies to engage in gem-mining. The President said as soon as he took over the Ministry of Environment he cancelled all these licenses in order to protect the local gem industry.

The President pointed out that lack of fiscal discipline in a corrupt government make people to become more poor. He said if the revenue of a government is transparent, that would be sufficient to cover the budget deficit.