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Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau

PM calls for cultural enrichment alongside economic development

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has emphasised that national progress must extend beyond infrastructure and economic growth to encompass the cultural and artistic enrichment of citizens' lives.

LSN Sri Lanka · 16 October 2026

Dr. Amarasuriya underscored the importance of balancing physical development with investments in aesthetics and culture, arguing that a nation's advancement cannot be evaluated purely through material metrics such as roads, buildings and economic indicators.

The Prime Minister highlighted that true national progress requires attention to the inner lives and spiritual wellbeing of people, particularly through fostering appreciation for the arts and creative expression. She stressed that empathy and cultural awareness form essential components of societal development.

Her remarks reflect a broader policy perspective that recognises development as multidimensional, encompassing not only tangible infrastructure improvements but also intangible elements that contribute to quality of life and social cohesion. The emphasis on arts and culture as key aspirations suggests government commitment to integrating these dimensions into development planning.