President tells newly elected UPFA members to WPC :

Voters think different

RASIKA SOMARATHNA

*Voters think of nation before anything else

*Council members must forge common cause in making people’s wish a reality

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday called for unity and a common understanding among all political regulatory bodies in the country (such as the Parliament, Provincial Councils, Pradeshiya Sabhas etc.) where a decision of one body is complemented by the other in working towards a common goal, to propel the country forward.

Addressing the newly elected UPFA members to the Western Provincial Council immediately after they took oaths in the presence of the President and Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday morning, he said: “The end of one war... is a beginning of another. While the struggle to defeat terrorism comes to an end we should wage another to usher unity and prosperity for the country.”

While urging the new members of the Western Provincial Council from the UPFA to commit themselves to the cause with selfless dedication, the President said: “The thinking of the voters has undergone a significant change today.

“They no longer think about materialistic gains based on election promises by politicians on campaign trail, when exercising their franchise.

Instead their thinking is in the lines of elevating the nation before anything else”.“Thus these newly elected Council members should be prepared to honour and supplement this emerging political thinking among the country’s populace, by forging a common cause sans petty politics in making the wish of the people a reality,” he added.

During the oath taking ceremony which was held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of a large gathering including Ministers and family members of the elected members, Prasanna Ranatunge who obtained the highest number of preferential votes at the WPC polls was sworn in as the Chief Minister. Four other members took oaths as Ministers of the Council which is scheduled to meet shortly.

The President described the unprecedented mandate received by the UPFA at the WPC polls as a clear indication of the people’s thinking and also as an endorsement of the path taken by the Government.

While claiming that the Western Province was a unique landscape in the Sri Lankan map due to the diversity it possesses in all spheres, the President said that in comparison to other PCs the onus was on the WPC members to effectively cater to these diversified demands.

“The UPFA did not make any promises during its election campaign but still the masses kept faith with us and approved the path we have taken so far with an overwhelming mandate. So it is the responsibility of those newly elected to uphold that faith and work in unison to achieve the desired results,” he added.

The President also noted that although some had being given responsible positions, the victory at the WPC election was the result of a collective effort. And it was the responsibility of all to work in unison for the greater good of the nation.

SLFP General Secretary, Minister Maithripala Sirisena requested ruling party members to consider nominating the following elected members to other key posts in the Council which is to sit shortly, in accordance with a UPFA decision. Sunil Wijeratna of the Gampaha District as Chairman, Ranjith Somawansa of the Kalutara district as Vice Chairman and Sunil Jayamini of the Colombo District as the Chief Organizer of the ruling party.

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New WPC heads

Prasanna Ranatunge: Chief Minister, Education, Finance & Planning, Law and Order, Land, Provincial Administration, Human Resources & Employment and Economic Development portfolios.

Udaya Gammanpila: Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Irrigation, Livestock Production and Development, Trade and Environment Minister.

Nimal Lansa: Road Development, Power & Energy, Housing & Construction, Fisheries and Tourism Minister.

Angage Jagath Thilakasiri Perera: Health, Indigenous Medicine, Social Welfare, Women’s Affairs, Probation & Child Care Minister.

Upali Kodikara: Transport, Sports & Youth Affairs, Cultural Affairs, Rural Area Development, Cooperative Development and Food Distribution Minister.

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