Govt. totally committed to intensive tsunami reconstruction programme - Majeed

The government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapakse has totally committed to an intensive tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation programme and the President's Policy Statement highlighted the importance of rebuilding the lives of the people affected by the tsunami and the acceleration of rehabilitation programme said the Minister of Co-operative and Co-operative Development M. Najeeb Abdul Majeed who is also the Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government,when he participated at the handing over of 63 tractors with trailers to tsunami affected Local Authorities by the UNDP.

The function was held at the BMICH on Thursday. The consignment of 63 tractors with trailers was an outright grant by the Capacity Development for Recovery Programme (CADREP), a subsidiary of the UNDP's Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme.

Majeed said as a Member of Parliament of a District severely affected by tsunami, he personally knew the magnitude and the scope of the extensive damage and the voice of the people raised not only for relief but also for rebuilding of their lives through intensive tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation programme.

He said he was happy to participate in this important event. Which was no doubt a landmark in the Tsunami Rehabilitation, particularly at the Local Authority level.

He added "although I am new to this Ministry, I am well aware that this Ministry under the leadership of the Minister has endeavoured to implement and Co-ordinate the Tsunami Rehabilitation activities targeted at the rebuilding of Local Authority infrastructure and services provided to the people.

This Ministry plays an important role in facilitating the rehabilitation of Local Authority areas and co-ordinating the activities at the national level. Accordingly, this Ministry has worked together with the UNDP, Asian Development Bank, Japan Bank for International Co-operation and other agencies to provide support to Local Authorities.