Maha Nayakas praise development drive amidst military campaign

Rasika SOMARATHNA

KANDY: While praising the Government’s development drive amidst the battle against terrorism, the Maha Nayakas of the Malwattta and Asgiriya Chapters emphasised the need to sustain the effort when President Mahinda Rajapaksa met the Prelates in Kandy.

President Rajapaksa who made an inspection tour in Kandy to look into matters pertaining to development work in the area and the Central Province paid homage at the Dalada Maligawa on Saturday before meeting the Prelates.

The Chief Prelate of the Malwatta Chapter Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera while praising the Government’s efforts on the development drive amidst heavy expenditure for security concerns pointed out that the Government should pay special attention to development work at grass root level.

The Maha Nayakas has also added that after being elected, most MPs tend to forget their electorate while enjoying a luxurious life in Colombo and emphasised the need to get them effectively involved in the development work in their electorates.

President Rajapaksa who briefed the Prelates regarding the Security Forces’ victories in the East, said the Government had embarked on a major development drive in the area to sustain the military gains with an effective Civil Administrative structure.

President Rajapaksa also pointed out that the Government had allocated Rs.9.5 billion on a special development project for Kandy District and the work would be expedited in a given time frame with the daily expenditure being Rs. 25 million.

Minister C.B. Rathnayake, Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa and Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara also participated.