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Home Affairs and Local Government Minister Alick Aluvihare was the chief invitee at the reception ceremony of the Matale new Mayor Mohomed Hilmy, Deputy Mayor V. G. Jinadasa and other members conducted at the Matale Municipal Council Chamber on April 16. Central Provincial Council Member and the Leader of the Opposition Wasantha Aluvihare and his team members Mohan Weerakoon, M. Sivagnanam, MC members I. K. Maithreepala, Susira Palitha Herath, Sandanam Pragash, S. A. Fernando, M. A. T. R. de Silva, S. Muthuraman, M. R. Sfarullah, and Aris Mohamed Izad were present at this reception.

Home Affairs and Local Government Minister, Central Provincial Council Opposition Leader and members and MC members lit the customary oil lamp to inaugurate the ceremony.

Delivering the main speech Minister Alick Aluvihare said that he entered politics in the year 1961 after the demise of late Minister, his uncle Sir Bernard Aluvihare. As a mark of respect to the late Matale Leader Alick was elected uncontested by the voters of Ward No. 1 Aluvihare.

There were 13 wards at that time same as today. The speaker made a special mention of MC Member I. K. Muthuwa who also was sent uncontested from ward No. 4. Although SLFP government under Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike which was in power, could not win a single ward at 1963 Matale MC election.

The Minister recalled that all his fellow MC members have gone and he was fortunate to carry on politics for 41 years as the servant of Matale people.

Appealing to the new MC members the Minister told that once they enter the House they should keep away from business and contracts. He told that he was not given a salary when he was first elected to the then Matale Urban Council. As that administration was in the Opposition it faced the problem of 'short of funds'. The minister stressed the importance of adhering to law and justice.

The Minister disclosed the incidents of several malpractices by the past Matale Pradeshiya Sabha administration. Concluding his speech Minister Aluvihare appealed to the Mayor Hilmy to do the needful to make Matale Municipal Council the best in the country and to improve Matale as the main attraction in the hill country. He commended the experience of the Deputy Mayor V. G. Jinadasa who had held the mayorship three times and the membership in Parliament for 10 years. The Minister also appealed to Deputy Mayor to share his experience with the Mayor to do justice to the rate payers.

Delivering his maiden speech Matale Mayor Mohamed Hilmy told that he was very happy to have the veteran politician with 41 years experience Minister Alick Aluvihare, in charge of the Local Government Ministry.

He expressed his confidence that the Minister would extend every support to carry-out his development programmes to the full and to serve the people in the best possible manner.

Deputy Mayor V. G. Jinadasa said that he served from 1969 to 1989 as Matale Mayor on three occasions. The income of the council was very much less at that time. The opportunity of getting the support of the NGOs is a welcome sign by the new mayor. He stressed that above everything garbage disposal is very important in Matale which has been neglected by the past administration.

Secretary H. K. B. Perera also spoke.

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