Sri Lanka's president Maithripala Sirisena on Friday assured locals that his government would enter into any free trade agreements internationally which would be detrimental to local industry.
“The government will only enter into any free trade agreements with foreign countries by protecting local industries,” Mr Sirisena was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.
"False and misleading propaganda is being spread among local industrialists in urban areas by a group unconnected to the business community. I assure you that this government would not do anything detrimental to the local industry or industrialists. Our focus is on increasing exports if we are to achieve rapid development," he added.
"State patronage for the local industry was not satisfactory during the past 25 years and in particular the government support to the local industries in the past two and half years," he said, stating that the government would "implement a new programme within the next few months to encourage and guide small and medium scale entrepreneurs."