Politicians duty-bound to develop remote villages

M. A. R. Manukulasooriya Hiriyala group correspondent

As politicians it is our bounden duty to find out shortcomings in remote villages and take action to fulfil them Highways and Road Development Minister T. B. Ekanayake said.

The Minister made these observations at the opening ceremony of a laboratory building at the Panagamuwa Central College in the Rideegama Education Division.

The Minister said the Government allocates a colossal sum of money every year for the development of education in the country. The Government grants free text books and school uniforms and also develops infrastructure facilities of the schools.

“We serve the whole nation irrespective of parties, races or religions. Our main target is to uplift the living condition of every citizen.

“During the past two decades almost all the roads and bridges were in a dilapidated condition. People were unable even to walk on them.

“Under the Maga Neguma program we were able to develop all these roads and bridges within a short period.

A large number of new roads and bridges are under construction.

The provision of electricity paves the way for the development because self-employment ventures and small scale and medium scale industries will come into existence.

There is no other country in the world that gives free education from Grade one upto university education.

Also all the countries in the world charge money for medical treatment.

The Government spends a large percentage of its income to uplift the living standards of the poor masses through programs like Samurdhi” he added.

R. D. Wimaladasa, Chairman of the North Western Provincial Council and M. K. Mouruth, Principal of the Central College also spoke.