Permanency, pensions for 24,000 Samurdhi DOs

Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura, Additional district group correspondent

ANURADHAPURA: Twenty-four thousand Samurdhi Development Officers (SDOs) in the country will shortly be made permanent with pension rights and re-designated as Development Officers (DOs), said Nation Building Minister S. M. Chandrasena. Chandrasena said this at a discussion held with a group of Samurdhi Development Officers at Matale who met him to represent some of their problems recently. The Minister was in Matale to chair some progress review meetings of the 'Jathika Saviya' and 'Gama Neguma' projects at Divisional Secretariat level. The Samurdhi Development Officer's brought to the notice of the Minister that since there was no Ministry of Samurdhi Affairs, in existence at present, there was no assurance with regard to their future prospects and the stability in service.Minister Chandrasena assured them that their positions would be made permanent with pension rights, etc. The Minister of Nation Building, act as Ministers of Samurdhi Affairs too. On the other hand the President has faith in Samurdhi Development Officers that they would be instrumental in achieving the objectives in the field of Jathika Saviya. We initiated the Samurdhi Movement and will never let it down, emphasised Minister Chandrasena.