As the Minister of Finance, Basil Rajapaksa, who was able to develop the rural economy during the war when the country's foreign reserves were less than $ 1.2 billion during the war in 2006, 2007 and 2008, will be able to easily overcome the economic challenges posed by the Covid situation to the country and the people, the Provincial Councillors said today. Former provincial councilors say it will be possible to achieve economic prosperity. Following the swearing in of the new Minister of Finance, a meeting of the former Provincial Councilors representing the Sri Lanka People's Front was held at Temple Trees yesterday (11) under the patronage o Basil Rajapaksa. The Provincial Councilors also expressed their congratulations on the appointment of the new Minister of Finance. "During the Mahinda Rajapaksa government, Basil Rajapaksa's contribution to the economic development of the country was highlighted by the provincial councilors who managed the international community during the war and maintained the development of the country at a high level through Gama Neguma and Maga Neguma," they said in a statement. The provincial councilors expressed confidence that Basil Rajapaksa would have the strength to easily manage the economic challenges posed by the Covid epidemic. Rajapaksa said that as the Minister of Finance, giving priority to the priorities of the government, he considers it his primary responsibility to support the realization of the vision of prosperity and is committed to fulfilling the responsibilities of the government as well as the role to be played on behalf of the party. Basil Rajapaksa also said that he would never hesitate to make sacrifices for the people and that he would continue to work for the motherland and the people as he had done in the past. The former Provincial Councilors had a lengthy discussion on their problems in contributing to development activities and Ministers and senior party officials also participated in this occasion.