WPC poll mandate signifies trust in President - CM
Lakshmi DE SILVA
Prasanna Ranatunga, the fifth Chief Minister of the Western
Provincial Council who assumed office yesterday at a function at
Srawasti Mandiraya, Colombo said the elected representatives of the UPFA
were returned with overwhelming majorities and it was the duty of all
council members to dedicate themselves for the uplift of the people of
the province.
Prasanna Ranatunga, the fifth Chief Minister of the Western
Provincial Council who assumed office yesterday. |
The mandate given to them was also significant of the trust the
people had reposed in President Mahinda Rajapaksa whose policy program
was practical and leadership strong.
All members of the council and the officials should serve the people
honestly in all matters brought before them such as admissions of
children to schools or providing facilities to the people. If, however,
anyone was found to be corrupt, he would not hesitate to take immediate
legal action against him or her, he said.
The Chief Minister said his path to the present position was not easy
and he had to clear several obstacles and the education and discipline
he had gained at the Ashoka Primary and Ananda College, Colombo had
helped him achieve many objectives.
In politics he had to lose much of his personal things and comforts,
but, the achievement he gained was the people’s trust.
He thanked the voters who had elected him with the largest majority
in the Province at the election on April 25, his late father
Parliamentarian Reggie Ranatunga and his family including his mother and
brothers who had given him all the support and encouragement in his
political career. UPFA General Secretary and Education Minister Susil
Premajayantha said Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had faced all
political obstacles and drawbacks from 1993 with patience and
determination and his political career was an example to other
politicians.
The Western Province comprised one fourth of the national population
and the financial, administrative and diplomatic centres were based in
the Province and the population was cosmopolitan with Sinhala, Tamil,
Muslim and other communities living in it.
Therefore, the problems and aspirations of the people were also
complex.
When the administration of the Western Provincial Council was carried
out efficiently and with transparency it could become the model
Provincial Council of the country, he noted.
Western Province Governor S. Alavi Mowlana and Secretary of the
Provincial Council Victor Samaraweera also spoke.
Minister Geethanjana Gunawardena, Parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga,
newly elected UPFA Provincial Council members and past members were
present at the function. |