Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena said he set up the National Economic Council in order to strengthen the country's economy.
The NEC would be aimed at increasing export income and developing local industry, Colombo Page reported.
Stating there is a need to develop the agricultural sector in the country, Mr Sirisena said, "the National Economic Council was established after the discussions with the representatives of World Bank, International Monetary Fund, local and international economic specialists and also Sri Lankan specialists, working abroad."
"The National Economic Council aims at fulfilling the government's responsibility for the development of industries," he added, whilst speaking at the award ceremony of the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries on Thursday in Colombo.