‘No merger of Northern and Eastern Provinces’

Sri Lankan Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has rejected the idea of merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces for economic reasons. To a question why the merger should not be allowed to achieve cost reduction — considering the fact that the Northern Province accounted for four per cent of the Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product (GDP) and the East — six per cent, Mr. Karunanayake told The Hindu on Friday that “at this moment, we are trying to embrace all races, all religions together. I do not think we should segregate it geographically.” On the proposed donor conference for the North and the East, the Minister said Japanese had come forward to take part in the event, which, he said, could take place by June or July next year.