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Land Policy for 21st centuring should be introduced

By Nadira Gunatilleke

Ministerial posts are not ornaments but challenges, Land Minister Rajitha Senaratne said assuming duties at his Ministry yesterday. Lands do not grow but the population grows everyday. I accept this challenge of providing lands for the poor people who do not have lands.

Minister Senaratne said that he would monitor the use of the lands given for agricultural activities. It was the late Prime Minister D.S.Senanayake who talked about a land policy for the first time in contemporary Sri Lankan history. He died in 1952 with the dream of land policy becoming a reality. Today a land policy that is fitting for the 21st century should be introduced. We cannot be happy about our recent history. We have to make some sacrifices to build the country, he said.

"After a long political journey, I was in the front line of the opposition and the Prime Minister has given me an important Ministry. Earlier this post was held by glorious politicians like D.S.Senanayake, C.P.De Silva, Maithripala Senanayake and Gamini Dissanayake. Then the post was held by Gamini Athukorala and D.M.Jayarathne. Today I accept this ministry and hope the whole staff from the top to the bottom will extend their fullest support. I know the severe difficulties faced by public sector employees and hope to look into their grievances.

Delivering an Anusasana Ven.Prof.Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera said that the people of this country wanted a change and it was not a change of seats. Solutions should be provided for the burning problems of the people. People complained about unnecessary delays and several other weaknesses and the Minister had pointed out some of the deficiencies.

Ven.Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera said that land had always been a controversial topic. We walk right into hell if we follow the path that we have been following for the last 53 years. New plans should be made to rescue the country. We should not adopt a passive stance on this issue. Encroachers should be punished without political bias, he said.

Dr.Sujatha Senaratne, family members of Minister Senaratne, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Ven.Muruttettuwe Ananda Thera, Ven.Banagala Upatissa Thera, priests of the other religions, Ministry officials, voters of the Kalutara district were also present.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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