Benefits of development programmes must reach people - President

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the main aim of his Government is to see that the benefits of rural development programmes reach the people at all levels and stressed on the importance of finding solutions to innumerable issues that have to be confronted when implementing these programmes.

"To realise this aim, it is of paramount importance to extend the support of the Governors and Chief Ministers at the Provincial level", the President said addressing the Governors and the Chief Ministers at a discussion held at the President's House in Kandy yesterday.

At the discussion on the progress of the rural development work so far carried out a large number of problems which are faced at village level in carrying out those projects were also discussed.

The attention was drawn to the utilizing of unused land for the "Grow More Food" campaign. The issues surfacing in Road Development work also drew special attention of the President. They also reviewed the progress so far made in Road Development Work within the estates undertaken by Jathika Saviya and Gama Neguma programmes.

Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake made President Rajapaksa aware of the needs of the Badureliya Hospital and the President in turn directed the health authorities to look in to the matter and to take steps to meet the requirements of the hospital.

The officials of the Health Ministry informed the President that steps have been taken to provide two ambulances to the hospital.

They discussed the importance of persuading the people to get used to consuming rice-flour to successfully resolve a number of problems the country has to face with the price hike of flour in the world market.

Provincial Chief Ministers underscored the importance to take IT to the rural sector and to bring the Nena Sala, a brain child of the President close to the rank and file of the rural polity to get the best out of the scheme.

President Rajapaksa who endorsed the views expressed by the Chief Ministers in taking IT to the rural polity pointed out that it was equally important to introduce foreign languages like English and Japanese to empower the rural youth.

He also observed that development did not mean the mere taking of movable properties to the village, but enriching them with knowledge to make them intelligent and valuable to society.

Governors Alavi Mowlana, Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Reggie Ranatunga, Karunarathne Divulgane, Saliya Mathew and Ms.Kumari Balasuriya along with Chief Ministers Berty Premalal Dissanayake, Sarath Ekanayaka, Mahipala Herath, Athula Wijesinghe, Reginald Cooray, Vijith Vijithamuni de Soysa and Shan Vijayalal de Silva were present at the discussion.

Deputy Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage, C.B. Ratnayake, Rohana Kumara Dissanayake and Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivaard Cabraal were also present.