'Govt. officers reluctant to attend co-ordinating committee meetings'

M.A.R. Manukulasooriya, Hiriyala Group corr

"Some Government officers are refraining from attending the co-ordinating committee meetings. How can we go ahead with these lethargic officers," said Coconut Development Minister Salinda Dissanayake.

The Minister was speaking at the monthly meeting of the Divisional Co-ordinating Committee at the Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretariat. He said a large number of development projects had been implemented in the Hiriyala electorate during this year under Jathika Saviya, Gama Neguma, Maga Neguma, Wari Pubuduwa and Api Wawamu-Rata Nagamu programmes.

Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretary R.M.R.M. Rathnayake said funds released to the Kurunegala District Secretary for these projects were not sufficient. Sometimes we have to utilise Samurdhi funds for these works," she said.

Chithra Kumary, co-ordinating officer of the decentralised funds said works on 53 development projects had been completed.

An Agriculture Department official said works on eleven development projects had been completed with the funds allocated by the Provincial Agriculture Ministry.

The Land Development officer said it has not been possible to finalise the land Kachcheri at Warakawehera due to an unauthorised building there. The land Kachcheri at Kimbulwanaoya was in progress and lots of lands could be handed over to the people as soon as the lots are surveyed. He said permits for these lands had already been prepared.

Several members of the Ibbagamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha said immediate action should be taken against the company that uses heavy vehicles for the transport of metal and granites damaging several rural roads in the Melsiripura area.

The Technical Officer of the PS said fifty per cent construction works of the new Pradeshiya Sabha building had been completed.

The representative from the Hiriyala MPCS said Samurdhi stamps for November had been issued and the fertiliser distribution was in progress.

The representative of the Zonal Education Office said that out of 908 students who sat for the Grade 5 scholarship examination from the schools in the zone, 140 students had passed.

Gokarella Police OIC Inspector Ranjith Vitharana said, several thefts and housebreaking had been reported from Melsiripura town and some complaints were by the owners themselves to claim compensation from insurance companies.