|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 3 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
by Uditha Kumarasinghe The Freedom Alliance Government has given jobs to 84 youth as assistant engineering officers attached to the Irrigation Department in the first batch of appointments made in the State sector. They have successfully completed three years technical training at the Irrigation Department's, Galgamuwa Apprentice Training Institute. Agriculture, Lands and Irrigation Deputy Minister Bimal Ratnayake handed over appointment letters to the officers at a ceremony at the Ministry Auditorium. These appointments are subject to a three-year probation period. Their three-year training comprised two years theoretical training and one year's field training in surveying and making estimates. These officials will assist engineers to prepare estimates in the field and implement surveys. Ratnayake addressing the officials said the Ministry had drafted the basic components for formulating a National Water Policy which will prevent the sale or lease of the country's water resources to foreign countries or multinational companies. He said the Ministry has also laid emphasis on formulating a National Land Policy and a National Seed Policy. The Ministry's prime objective is to introduce a National Agriculture Policy to the country by amalgamating all these respective policies. Ratnayake said: "The National Agriculture Policy will be introduced as the basic approach to the development process. The sole intention of implementing this national policy is to expedite development. The national policies formulated by the Ministry will not provide any room for selling or leasing State properties to multinational companies." Development programs should be formulated for providing maximum benefits to the people. However, such a process was not implemented during the past few years and only a marginal service was rendered to the poor through various loans and aid received by the country. "If we want to develop the country, maximum advantage should be taken from the loans and grants obtained by minimising unnecessary expenditure," he said. The Deputy Minister said: "We requested agriculture, livestock, lands and irrigation subjects based on the country's needs. During the past few years, these sectors suffered a severe setback. Therefore, we requested that these subjects should be under one ministry. Otherwise we have no intention whatsoever to distribute posts and use luxury vehicles, unnecessarily wasting public funds." |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
