No force can deprive people of their sovereign rights - President
Chaminda Perera
The people are committed to protect Government representatives when
they discharge their duties and responsibilities by the people properly,
said President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday. He added that no force can
deprive the people of their sovriegn rights nor can it be taken from
them.
 The President added that various insidious forces are busy planning
to overthrow the UPFA government which always gives prominence to the
development of villages where more than 85 per cent of country’s
population lives.
prominence to the development of villages where more than 85 per cent
of country's population lives. He added that a number of Non Government
Organizations and LTTE proxies are involved in this mission.
The President was speaking at the local government symposium and the
Swarna Purawara awards ceremony at Temple Trees yesterday.
The President presented awards to local government institutions which
excelled in efficiency and solid waste management.
The Bandarawela Municipal Council was adjudged the best Municipal
Council in the field of managing solid waste while the Balangoda urban
Council became the best Urban council in terms of managing solid waste.
The Yatiyantota Pradeshiya Sabha was the best PS in the field of solid
waste management.
North Western Provincial Commissioner M.W. Maddumabandara received a
special award from the President for his longstanding service in the
local government sector. He added that a number of Non Government
Organizations and LTTE proxies are involved in this mission.
He said local government institutions render an enormous service.
The President said the people's representatives should keep in mind
that they are there for the service of people and they should show more
commitment in this regard.
"The people will safeguard public representatives when they discharge
their duties and responsibilities by the people properly",he added.
He said the Government led by him took bold steps in bringing the
dividends of development to the rural areas of the country. The
President added that the Government brought Colombo centered development
to the village.
"All villages in the country are witnessing the rays of development",
he added.
President Rajapaksa recalled how various forces stood in the way when
former Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranaike was attempting to revive the
economy of rural masses.
He said the Government faced innumerable challenges when it was in
the process of uniting the country by eliminating terrorism. He added
that his government is facing the same challenges when the programmes
are being implemented to uplift the living standards of the rural
communities.
The President said the higher echelons among the urbanites who are
averse to giving power and development to the villages underestimated
the Government's development drive aiming at uplifting the rural folk.
He said these forces of the pampered class are standing up against
the villages. The President said that the Government wanted to revive
and protect the national heritage.
President Rajapaksa added that the people in villages were stranded
with the establishment of Development Councils in place of Village
Councils. Over 500 villages councils which were in operation till 1981
seized to exhist with the establishment of Development Councils and the
people became distanced from the authorities in power.
He said the then Government established the Pradesh Sabha system as
recommended by the Youth Unrest Commission of 1989. Many candidates
contesting Pradeshiya Sabha election request that the preferential vote
system should be done away with as it leads to clashes.
President Rajapaksa noted that all villages in the country are being
developed and almost all houses in the villages have been supplied
electricity. He said before this people sought politicians' support to
get telecommunication facilities to their households but no body seeks
politician's support to get telecommunication facilities their house
holds.
He said that rural villages have internet access today. President
Rajapaksa also added that the Colombo city is also being developed.
Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister A.L.M. Athaulla,
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Deputy Minister Indika
Bandaranayake also spoke.
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