Accelerated development in all districts - Minister Rajapaksa

Sisira Jayanath Peiris Ampitiya group corr.

The government has taken measures to bring all districts under an accelerated development program in order to make Sri Lanka a wonder of Asia, said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa when he addressed a meeting of the Kandy District Co-ordinating Committee at the Kandy District Secretariat auditorium yesterday.

He said it was the duty of all public servants to find urgent solutions to people’s problems. Certain public officials took a lackadaisical approach towards solving people’s problems and such attitudes would only retard development, he said. Minister Rajapaksa also emphasised the need for all State institutions to co-ordinate their activities to uplift the living conditions of the people.

He said Kandy is a fortunate district which has produced the country’s Prime Minister. It had the largest number of Ministers next to Colombo district. Kandy was also blessed with bountiful natural resources and the district could witness accelerated development if everyone put their hands together and worked in unison to develop the region.

He said all funds allocated under the Kandurata Udana program would be utilised properly to develop the Central Province as a whole. The ‘Jana Sabha’ concept of Mahinda Chinthana was designed to develop the villages. He said Regional Development Committees too have been strengthened to facilitate accelerated development.

He said his Ministry would provide all funds required by the Provincial Councils and the Agrarian Services Department to facilitate development.

Funds necessary for development of roads in the Kandy district would be allocated from this year’s Budget. Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake said that Minister Basil Rajapaksa possesses a wealth of experience in development activities gained through his engagement in development programs such as Negenahira Navodaya and Uturata Vasanthaya.