MUMBAI: After decades of struggle against terrorism on its soil, the time has come for Sri Lanka to fight all odds and proceed for growth. Considering music and cinema as its key growth drivers, the country aims to strengthen its foothold in the media and entertainment industry.

Speaking with Radioandmusic.com, Minister of Mass Media and Information Sri Lanka Dr Keheliya Rambukwella says, "Musically Sri Lanka is very rich; we have indigenous music accompanied by hindi, telugu and Bangla songs. Sri Lanka has lot of potential and music goes very freely here. We were battered by huge problems of terrorism for years; it had set us back. But now the road is very clear and directions are right so we will just fly all across."

Highlighting the fact that there is no barrier of language in music he quoted the example of Psy’s Gangnam style that became a massive hit among western countries, “If you have good music it just flows. In Gangnam Style, there are only two english words but it is rocking the entire west. Songs like this can break all the barriers and borders. Music and songs have been well appreciated in our country,” Rambukwella avers.

Rambukwella was in the financial capital for Ficci frames 2013 held last week. He was one of the panelist for the session on ‘The SAARC Ministers’ Panel – Forging Enduring Ties’. "The SAARC region should build an individual identity. We have to unite and this is something we need to work on as there is huge population in this part of the sub-continent.”