Provide welfare facilities sans party colours - President

Rohan Mathes

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa directed the Local Government authorities to provide adequate welfare services and facilities to the people, regardless of their political allegiances.

Meeting the representatives of the United Urban Councils Conference at Temple Trees yesterday, President Rajapaksa stated that the local government officials also have a great role to play in the mega development effort of the Government, including the Gama Neguma and the Maga Neguma projects which are successfully under way.

They should contribute to the said projects, considering it their bounden duty, in a way that will contribute to the rapid development of their respective areas.

The representatives made several new submissions to the President how they could increase the revenue of the Urban Councils (UC). On a request made to transfer the management of Rest Houses presently under the Urban Development Authority (UDA), to the Urban Councils (UC), the President directed the relevant officials to reach an agreement on the transfer process, after careful consultation between the parties concerned.

The systematic production of Compost fertiliser by the local authorities, its funding and the Provision of Technical Knowledge for same was discussed at length.

The provision of ‘field trips’ abroad for UC Chairmen, the provision of loans to purchase Motor cycles for UC members and usage the title ‘Mayor’ by UC Chairmen, the recruitment of Public Health Inspectors and Health Services workers also came up for discussion.

The President said that the provision of locally manufactured vehicles could be considered for them.

Ministers Janaka Bandara Tennekoon and Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Deputy Ministers Basheed Segu Dawood, Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, the Chairman of United Urban Councils Conference and Chairman of Ambalangoda UC Anura Pradeep and other UC Chairmen participated in the meeting.