Govt will carry development process despite LTTE threats

Jayasiri Munasinghe

KURUNEGALA: The Government will not suspend the development process and public welfare activities envisaged under the Mahinda Chintana programme on the excuse of an alleged war condition in the country, states Basil Rajapaksa, Senior Presidential Advisor on International Affairs.

He emphasised this vision when he addressed the two inauguration ceremonies of the first stage of the Government's three year programme of developing 14000 hamlets under the Mahinda Chintana programme that were held at Shalika Inn Hotel, Kegalle and at the Kurunegala District Secretariat yesterday (16).

The two ceremonies presided over by Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa were attended by several Parliamentarians, Chief Ministers of Provincial Councils, Members of Provincial Councils, Municipal Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas and officials of State institutions including District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladharies.

The first stage of this programme which is implemented under the "Gama Neguma" parallel to the "Jathika Saviya" programme of Mahinda Chintana" Development Process envisages development of 230 hamlets in the Kegalle District and 340 hamlets in the Kurunegala District within the first year.

Out of the 14000 hamlets envisaged to be developed within three years, the first stage involve identified 4000 hamlets under the first stage which is targeted to be accomplished within the first year.